3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Flying \Fly"ing\, a. [From {Fly}, v. i.]
Moving in the air with, or as with, wings; moving lightly or
rapidly; intended for rapid movement.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
flying
adj 1: capable of or engaged in flight; "the bat is a flying
animal"
2: moving swiftly; "fast-flying planes"; "played the difficult
passage with flying fingers" [syn: {fast-flying}]
3: streaming or flapping or spreading wide as if in a current
of air; "ran quickly, her flaring coat behind her";
"flying banners"; "flags waving in the breeze" [syn: {aflare},
{flaring}, {waving}]
4: designed for swift movement or action; "a flying police
squad is trained for quick action anywhere in the city"
5: of or relating to passage through the air especially
aviation; "a flying time of three hours between cities";
"unidentified flying objects"
6: hurried and brief; "paid a flying visit"; "took a flying
glance at the book"; "a quick inspection"; "a fast visit"
[syn: {quick}, {fast}]
7: done swiftly in or as if in the air; used e.g. of a racing
start in which runners are already in motion as they cross
the starting line; "a flying start"; "crossed the goal
line with a flying leap"
n : an instance of traveling by air; "flying was still an
exciting adventure for him" [syn: {flight}]