1. Word finder
  2. Word definitions
  3. to fly around

Find the word definition

What is "to fly around"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To fly around

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 through 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.

    1. To rush out.

    2. To burst into a passion; to break out into license. To let fly.

      1. To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. ``A man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim.''
        --Addison.

      2. (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets.

Usage examples of "to fly around".

Every young hawk going from the nest first wants to fly around the nest and defy those who built it.

If you hadn't run that light, Captain Douglas wouldn't have asked me to fly around and locate you.

We had a cage-bird, a cross between a linnet and a roller canary, which we used to let free to fly around the bedroom.

Big fires lighted at intervals blazed all down the slope, 'but up here,' he explained, 'the hoisting gang had to fly around in the dark.