fly
Travel through air
From the original verb designating the act of moving through the air with wings, fly has developed other meanings that borrow an element from the original.
The wings don’t have to be your own, as when you fly from one place to another in an aircraft.
If a flag is what’s flying, wings are not even necessary.
Fly is always irregular (flew, flown), except in baseball, where the past tense is flied: He flied into the bleachers.
The most common noun use of fly designates any of various insects, especially the housefly.
In baseball, a fly is a hit ball that is caught by a fielder.
Ascend to heights
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- hoverRemain suspended midair
- flitMove lightly, rapidly
- dartHandheld pointed projectile
swoop · drift · ascend · descend · flap · flutter · wing · airborne
Toothed closure device
- buttonDisc through a hole
- closureSense of emotional resolution
- snapSudden sharp sound
- placketReinforced garment slit
trousers · pants · jeans · unzipped · crotch · seam · fabric · garment
Ascend to heights
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- airplanePowered flying machine
cockpit · altitude · airspeed · takeoff · landing · cruise · turbulence · runway
Recreational hook-and-line pursuit
- troutFreshwater game fish
- rodThin rigid stick
- reelWinding cylinder or dance
- castPerformers, throw, or splint
tippet · waders · stream · hook · line · leader · backcast · drift
Low vibrating hum
- swatterPest-killing paddle
- maggotImmature fly stage
- larvaImmature feeding stage
- blowflyCarrion-breeding fly
blackfly · tsetse · gnat · pest · compound eyes · proboscis · antenna · thorax
Depart swiftly from threat
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
- abscondFlee to avoid capture
- eludeSkillfully avoid capture
- evadeEscape by cunning
getaway · fugitive · run · dash · scatter · vanish · disappear · hasty
Suddenly appearing window
- outfieldField beyond bases
- line driveSharply hit ball, flat trajectory
- catchSeize or snag
- warning trackDirt strip near outfield fence
center field · batter · dugout · inning · RBI · tag up · flyout · foul ball
Fashionably elegant
- coolCalm or fashionable
- freshNewly made, not stale
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- fashionableCurrently in style
Perform without preparation
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- ad hocFor this purpose specifically
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- off the cuffSpontaneous, unrehearsed speech
soar
Ascend to heights
dart · swoop · drift · ascend · descend · flap · flutter · wing · airborne · swirl
zipper
Toothed closure device
placket · trousers · pants · jeans · unzipped · crotch · seam · fabric · garment
soar
Ascend to heights
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
airplane · cockpit · altitude · airspeed · takeoff · landing · cruise · turbulence · runway · propeller
angling
Recreational hook-and-line pursuit
cast · tippet · waders · stream · hook · line · leader · backcast · drift · nymph
buzzing
Low vibrating hum
blowfly · blackfly · tsetse · gnat · pest · compound eyes · proboscis · antenna · thorax · metamorphosis
flee
Depart swiftly from threat
evade · getaway · fugitive · run · dash · scatter · vanish · disappear · hasty · retreat
popup
Suddenly appearing window
- outfieldField beyond bases
- line driveSharply hit ball, flat trajectory
- catchSeize or snag
warning track · center field · batter · dugout · inning · RBI · tag up · flyout · foul ball
stylish
Fashionably elegant
improvise
Perform without preparation
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- ad hocFor this purpose specifically
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- when pigs flyExpressing utter impossibility
- on the flyDone without preparation
- flying saucerDisc-shaped alien vehicle
- fly a kiteOutdoor wind-powered recreation
- fly swatterHandheld bug killer
- flying trapezeSuspended bar for aerialists
flying, flyer, butterfly, flyers, firefly, dragonfly, horsefly, flyswatter, flyover