fly ing

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

(non-technical) Especially, any of the insects of the family Muscidae, such as the common housefly (other families of Diptera include mosquitoes and midges).

Any similar but not closely related insect, such as a dragonfly, butterfly, or gallfly.

(fishing) A lightweight fishing lure resembling an insect.

(weightlifting) A chest exercise performed by moving extended arms from the sides to in front of the chest. (also flye)

(swimming) The butterfly stroke (plural is normally flys).

(preceded by definite article) A simple dance in which the hands are shaken in the air, popular in the 1960s.

(finance) A butterfly (combination of four options).

An act of flying.

(baseball) A fly ball.

A piece of canvas that covers the opening at the front of a tent.

(often plural) A strip of material (sometimes hiding zippers or buttons) at the front of a pair of trousers, pants, underpants, bootees, etc.

(vexillology) The free edge of a flag.

(vexillology) The horizontal length of a flag.

(weightlifting) An exercise that involves wide opening and closing of the arms perpendicular to the shoulders.

The part of a weather vane pointing the direction from which the wind blows.

(nautical) That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card.

Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock.

In a knitting machine, the piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch.

The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.

(weaving) A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk.

One of the upper screens of a stage in a theatre.

(cotton manufacture) Waste cotton.

(rustic, Scotland, Northern England) A wing.

(obsolete) A witch's familiar.

(obsolete) A parasite.

(obsolete) The action of flying; flight.

(India, obsolete) The sloping or roof part of the canvas of a tent.

(historical) A type of small, light, fast horse-drawn carriage that can be hired for transportation (sometimes pluralised flys).

(printing, historical) The person who took the printed sheets from the press.

(printing, historical) A vibrating frame with fingers, attached to a power printing press for doing the same work.

A surname.

A river in Papua New Guinea

(American football) Ellipsis of fly route. [(American football) A pattern run by a receiver, straight upfield towards the end zone, with the aim of outrunning any defensive backs and getting behind them, catching an undefended pass while running untouched for a touchdown.]

Ellipsis of flywheel. [(mechanical engineering) A rotating mass used to maintain the speed of a machine within certain limits while the machine receives or releases energy at a varying rate, or as a form of energy storage.]

Alternative form of vly (“swamp (in New York)”). [(US, chiefly New York, now chiefly in place names) A small swampy or marshy area, especially near a stream.]

(intransitive) To travel through the air, another gas, or a vacuum, without being in contact with a grounded surface.

(transitive, ergative) To cause to fly (travel or float in the air): to transport via air or the like.

(intransitive) To travel or proceed very fast; to hasten.

(intransitive) To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly.

(intransitive) To proceed with great success.

(intransitive, colloquial, of a proposal, project or idea) To be accepted, come about or work out.

(transitive, ergative) To display (a flag) on a flagpole.

(transitive) To hunt with a hawk.

(intransitive, entomology, of a type of moth or butterfly) To be in the winged adult stage.

(intransitive, baseball) To hit a fly ball; to hit a fly ball that is caught for an out. Compare ground (verb) and line (verb).

(ambitransitive, archaic, poetic) To flee, to escape (from).

(slang, dated) Quick-witted, alert, mentally sharp.

(slang) Clandestine, surreptitious

(slang) Well dressed, smart in appearance; in style, cool.

(slang) Beautiful; displaying physical beauty.