Fly \Fly\ (fl[imac]), v. i. [imp. Flew (fl[=u]); p. p. Flown
(fl[=o]n); p. pr. & vb. n. Flying.]
[OE. fleen, fleen,
fleyen, flegen, AS. fle['o]gan; akin to D. vliegen, OHG.
fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. flj[=u]ga, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve,
Goth. us-flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh.
to L. pluma feather, E. plume. [root]84. Cf. Fledge,
Flight, Flock of animals.]
1. To move in or pass thorugh the air with wings, as a bird.
2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass
or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse.
3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag.
Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
--Job v. 7.
4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate
rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around;
rumor flies.
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race.
--Milton.
The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on.
--Bryant.
5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an
enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee.
Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. --Milton.
Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ? --Shak.
6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly
or swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door
flies open; a bomb flies apart.
To fly about (Naut.), to change frequently in a short time;
-- said of the wind.
To fly around, to move about in haste. [Colloq.]
To fly at, to spring toward; to rush on; to attack
suddenly.
To fly in the face of, to insult; to assail; to set at
defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct
opposition to; to resist.
To fly off, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to
revolt.
To fly on, to attack.
To fly open, to open suddenly, or with violence.
To fly out.
(a) To rush out.
(b) To burst into a passion; to break out into license.
To let fly.
(a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. ``A man
lets fly his arrow without taking any aim.''
--Addison.
(b) (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let
fly the sheets.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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