Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Definition of fly verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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fly

verb
fly pronunciation English flaɪ fly pronunciation American flaɪ
 
flies, flying, flew
flew pronunciation English fluː flew pronunciation American fluː
flown
flown pronunciation English fləʊn flown pronunciation American floʊn
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 In sense 15 flied is used for the past tense and past participle.
 

of bird/insect

1 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to move through the air, using wingsA stork flew slowly past.A wasp had flown in through the window.
 

aircraft/spacecraft

2 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) (of an aircraft or a spacecraft) to move through air or spaceThey were on a plane flying from London to New York.to fly at the speed of soundLufthansa fly to La Paz from Frankfurt.3 [intransitive] to travel in an aircraft or a spacecraftIs this the first time that you've flown?fly (from…) (to…) I'm flying to Hong Kong tomorrow.+ noun I always fly business class.We're flying KLM.4 [transitive, intransitive] fly (something) to control an aircraft, etc. in the aira pilot trained to fly large passenger planeschildren flying kitesHe's learning to fly.5 [transitive] + adverb/preposition to transport goods or passengers in a planeThe stranded tourists were finally flown home.He had flowers specially flown in for the ceremony.6 [transitive] fly something to travel over an ocean or area of land in an aircraftto fly the Atlantic
 

move quickly/suddenly

7 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to go or move quicklyThe train was flying along.She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth.It's late—I must fly.8 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to move suddenly and with force(+ adverb/preposition) A large stone came flying in through the window.Several people were hit by flying glass.+ adjective David gave the door a kick and it flew open.
 

of time

9 [intransitive] to seem to pass very quicklyDoesn't time fly?fly by/past Summer has just flown by.
 

flag

10 [intransitive, transitive] if a flag flies, or if you fly it, it is displayed, for example on a long poleFlags were flying at half mast on all public buildings.fly something to fly the Stars and Stripes
 

move freely

11 [intransitive] to move around freelyhair flying in the wind
 

of stories/rumours

12 [intransitive] to be talked about by many people
 

escape

13 [transitive, intransitive] fly (something) (formal) to escape from somebody/somethingBoth suspects have flown the country. compare flee
 

of plan

14 [intransitive] (North American English) to be successfulIt remains to be seen whether his project will fly.
 

in baseball

15 flies, flying, flied, flied [intransitive, transitive] fly (something) to hit a ball high into the air
Idioms

fly the coop

(informal, especially North American English) to escape from a place

fly high

to be successful
British cinema has been flying high recently, winning several coveted awards.

fly in the face of something

to oppose or be the opposite of something that is usual or expected
Such a proposal is flying in the face of common sense.

fly into a rage, temper, etc.

to become suddenly very angry

(go) fly a/your kite

(North American English, informal) used to tell somebody to go away and stop annoying you or interfering

fly the nest

1 (of a young bird) to become able to fly and leave its nest2 (informal) (of somebody's child) to leave home and live somewhere else

fly off the handle

(informal) to suddenly become very angryHe seems to fly off the handle about the slightest thing these days.

go flying

(British English, informal) to fall, especially as a result of not seeing something under your feetSomeone's going to go flying if you don't pick up these toys.

let fly (at somebody/something) (with something)

to attack somebody by hitting them or speaking angrily to them
He let fly at me with his fist.She let fly with a stream of abuse.
 more at the bird has flown at bird, as the crow flies at crow noun, fly/show/wave the flagkeep the flag flying at flag noun, pigs might fly at pig noun, (fly) by the seat of your pants at seat noun, fly/go off at a tangent at tangent, time flies at time noun, fly/go out of the window at window
Phrasal verbs

fly at somebody

(of a person or an animal) to attack somebody suddenlyHe flew at me without warning.