Fly

Quick meaning: Fly is a noun meaning (zoology) Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also called true flies.

Meaning

(zoology) Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also called true flies.

More Meanings

1. Those or any similar but not closely related insect, such as a dragonfly, butterfly, or gallfly.
2. (fishing) A lightweight fishing lure resembling an insect.
3. (weightlifting) A chest exercise performed by moving extended arms from the sides to in front of the chest. (also flye)
4. (swimming) The butterfly stroke (plural is normally flys).
5. (non-technical) Especially, any of the insects of the family Muscidae, such as the common housefly (other families of Diptera include mosquitoes and midges).
6. (obsolete) A witch's familiar.
7. (obsolete) A parasite.

Example Sentences

a trifling fly, none of your great familiars

The fly that plays too near the flame burns in it.

Birds of passage fly to warmer regions as it gets colder in winter.

The Concorde flew from Paris to New York faster than any other passenger airplane.

Word Forms

• flying
• flyest
• flyeth
• flys
• flyer

Synonyms for fly

Depending on context, synonyms include soar, hover, wing, skim, glide, ascend.

Antonyms for fly

Common opposites include walk, remain, stay.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include wing, fell, fly sheet, pilot, aviate, vanish.

Related Dictionary Tools