1. any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially of the family Muscidae, as the common housefly.
2. any of various winged insects, as the mayfly or firefly.
3. a fishhook dressed with hair, feathers, silk, tinsel, etc., so as to resemble an insect or small fish, for use as a lure or bait.
4. the constellation Musca.

5. a detrimental factor; detraction: If there's one fly in the ointment, it's that there may not be the money to finish the job.

1. to move through the air using wings.
2. to be carried through the air by the wind or any other force or agency: bits of paper flying about.
3. to float or flutter in the air: flags flying in the breeze.
4. to travel in an aircraft or spacecraft.
5. to move suddenly and quickly; start unexpectedly: He flew from the room.
6. to change rapidly and unexpectedly from one state or position to another: The door flew open.
7. to flee; escape.
8. to travel in space: The probe will fly past the planet.
9. to move or pass swiftly: How time flies!
10. to move with an aggressive surge: A mother fox will fly at anyone approaching her kits.
11. Baseball.
• to bat a fly ball: He flied into right field.
• to fly out.
12. to be acceptable, believable, or feasible: It seemed like a good idea, but it just wouldn't fly.

13. to make (something) float or move through the air: to fly a kite.
14. to operate (an aircraft, spacecraft, or the like).
15. to hoist aloft, as for display, signaling, etc.: to fly a flag.
16. to operate an aircraft or spacecraft over: to fly the Pacific.
17. to transport or convey by air: We fly merchandise to Boston.
18. to escape from; flee: to fly someone's wrath.
19. Theater.
• to hang (scenery) above a stage by means of rigging supported by the gridiron.
• to raise (scenery) from the stage or acting area into the flies.

20. a strip of material sewn along one edge of a garment opening for concealing buttons, zippers, or other fasteners.
21. a flap forming the door of a tent.
22. a piece of canvas extending over the ridgepole of a tent and forming an outer roof.
23. an act of flying; a flight.
24. the course of a flying object, as a ball.
25. fly ball.
26. a light, covered, public carriage drawn by one horse; hansom; hackney coach.
27. a horizontal arm, weighted at each end, that pivots about the screw of a press so that when the screw is lowered the momentum of the fly will increase the force of the press.
28. a regulating device for chime and striking mechanisms, consisting of an arrangement of vanes on a revolving axis.
29. Printing.
• (in some presses) the apparatus for removing the printed sheets to the delivery table.
• (formerly) a printer's devil employed to remove printed sheets from a press.
30. (on a flag)
• the horizontal dimension of a flag as flown from a vertical staff.
• the end of the flag farther from the staff.
31. the space above the stage used chiefly for storing scenery and equipment.
32. a propellerlike device streamed to rotate and transfer information on speed to a mechanical log.

33. to be put out by hitting a fly ball that is caught by a player of the opposing team.

34. fly blind,
• to operate an airplane, especially during conditions of poor visibility, relying solely on instruments for guidance.
• to proceed with a complex task in the absence of directions by using one's own ability to determine what procedures to follow.
35. to act in defiance of (authority, custom, etc.).
36. handle (def. 16).
37. go fly a kite, Slang.
• to put up with or get used to matters as they stand.
• to confine oneself to one's own affairs.
• to cease being a nuisance: If she gets mad enough she'll tell me to go fly a kite.
38. let fly,
• to hurl or propel (a weapon, missile, etc.).
• to give free rein to an emotion: She let fly with a barrage of angry words.
39. on the fly,
• during flight; before falling to the ground: to catch a baseball on the fly.
• hurriedly; without pausing: We had dinner on the fly.

1. stylish, attractive, sophisticated, etc.: She put on silver stilettos, her flyest outfit, and plenty of bling, ready to party till dawn.
2. aware and worldly; clever; smart: Adults generally found him sly and conniving, but his teenage followers were convinced he was fly.
3. dexterous; agile; nimble.

1. (of birds, aircraft, etc) to move through the air in a controlled manner using aerodynamic forces
2. to travel over (an area of land or sea) in an aircraft
3. to operate (an aircraft or spacecraft)
4. to float, flutter, or be displayed in the air or cause to float, etc, in this way
5. to transport or be transported by or through the air by aircraft, wind, etc
6. to move or be moved very quickly, forcibly, or suddenly
7. to pass swiftly
8. to escape from (an enemy, place, etc); flee
9. to attack a person
10. to have a sudden outburst
11. (of money, etc) to vanish rapidly
12. (of hawks) to fly at (quarry) in attack
13. to suspend (scenery) above the stage so that it may be lowered into view
14. fly a kite
• to procure money by an accommodation bill
• to release information or take a step in order to test public opinion
15. fly high informal
• to have a high aim
• to prosper or flourish
16. fly in the face of See face (def. 19)
17. to lose one's temper
18. to leave suddenly
19. go away
20. let fly informal
• to lose one's temper (with a person)
• to shoot or throw (an object)

21. a closure that conceals a zip, buttons, or other fastening, by having one side overlapping, as on trousers
22. Also called: fly sheet
• a flap forming the entrance to a tent
• a piece of canvas drawn over the ridgepole of a tent to form an outer roof
23. a small air brake used to control the chiming of large clocks
24. the horizontal weighted arm of a fly press
• the outer edge of a flag
• the distance from the outer edge of a flag to the staff
26. a light one-horse covered carriage formerly let out on hire
27. an attempt
28. printing
• a device for transferring printed sheets from the press to a flat pile
• a person who collects and stacks printed matter from a printing press
• a piece of paper folded once to make four pages, with printing only on the first page
29. the space above the stage out of view of the audience, used for storing scenery, etc
30. the act of flying

1. any dipterous insect, esp the housefly, characterized by active flight
2. any of various similar but unrelated insects, such as the caddis fly, firefly, dragonfly, and chalcid fly
3. a lure made from a fish-hook dressed with feathers, tinsel, etc, to resemble any of various flies or nymphs: used in fly-fishing
4. (in southern Africa) an area that is infested with the tsetse fly
5. to drink alone
6. fly in amber See amber (def. 2)
7. a slight flaw that detracts from value, completeness, or enjoyment
8. a person who watches others, while not being noticed himself or herself
9. he is no fool

1. knowing and sharp; smart
2. furtive or sneaky

3. in secret; sneakily

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