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fly1 S2 W2
past tense flew
, past participle flown
past tense flew, past participle flown1 to travel by plane : 
She's flying back to the States tomorrow.Will you take the train there or fly? Maurice is nervous about flying, so he usually travels overland. Lewis stopped off in Jamaica before flying on to Toronto.
travel by plane
[intransitive]TTAShe's flying back to the States tomorrow.Will you take the train there or fly?Maurice is nervous about flying, so he usually travels overland.Lewis stopped off in Jamaica before flying on to Toronto.2 if a plane, spacecraft etc flies, it moves through the air : The plane was attacked as it flew over restricted airspace.
move through the air
[intransitive]TTAThe plane was attacked as it flew over restricted airspace.3 to be at the controls of a plane and direct it as it flies : She was the first woman to fly Concorde. The pilot was instructed to fly the plane to Montreal airport. Sonny learnt to fly when he was 15.
control a plane
[intransitive and transitive]TTAShe was the first woman to fly Concorde.The pilot was instructed to fly the plane to Montreal airport.Sonny learnt to fly when he was 15.4 to take goods or people somewhere by plane : The injured boy was flown by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital.
send somebody/something by plane
[transitive]TTAThe injured boy was flown by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital. fly something into/out of etc something US planes have been flying food and medical supplies into the area.
US planes have been flying food and medical supplies into the area.5 to use a particular airline or use a particular type of ticket when you travel by plane : We usually fly economy class. Millions of passengers fly British Airways every year.
use air company/service
[intransitive and transitive]TTAWe usually fly economy class.Millions of passengers fly British Airways every year.6 to cross a particular ocean or area of sea in a plane : Who was the first person to fly the Atlantic?
cross sea by plane
[transitive]TTAWho was the first person to fly the Atlantic?7 to move through the air using wings : The mother bird will feed her chicks until they are able to fly. The evening air was clouded with mosquitoes and other flying insects. The robin shook its feathers and flew away.
birds/insects
[intransitive]HBBHBIThe mother bird will feed her chicks until they are able to fly.The evening air was clouded with mosquitoes and other flying insects.The robin shook its feathers and flew away.8
move somewhere quickly
[intransitive]a) to move somewhere quickly and suddenly Rachel's hand flew to her mouth.
Rachel's hand flew to her mouth.b) to move quickly and suddenly through the air : There was a loud explosion, and suddenly there was glass flying everywhere.
There was a loud explosion, and suddenly there was glass flying everywhere.9 to make a kite fly in the air : In the park people were walking their dogs or flying their kites.
kite
[transitive]In the park people were walking their dogs or flying their kites.11 to move freely and loosely in the air : Harriet ran after him, her hair flying behind her.
move freely
[intransitive]Harriet ran after him, her hair flying behind her.12 if a flag flies, or if you fly it, it is fixed to the top of a tall pole so that it can be easily seen : After the invasion, people were forbidden to fly their national flag. The flags were flying cheerfully in the breeze. The government ordered that all flags should be flown at half mast (=halfway down the pole, in order to express public sadness at someone's death).
flag
[intransitive and transitive]After the invasion, people were forbidden to fly their national flag.The flags were flying cheerfully in the breeze.The government ordered that all flags should be flown at half mast (=halfway down the pole, in order to express public sadness at someone's death).14 used to say that a period of time seems to pass very quickly :
time flies
also the hours/the days etc fly15 to suddenly get extremely angry, extremely worried etc : Rebecca flew into a rage when she realized no-one had been listening to her.
fly into a rage/temper/panic etc
Rebecca flew into a rage when she realized no-one had been listening to her.16 to suddenly get very angry : Calm down - there's no need to fly off the handle.
fly off the handle
informalCalm down - there's no need to fly off the handle.17
let fly (something)
a) to suddenly start shouting angrily at someone [= let loose]: The prisoner let fly with a torrent of abuse.
The prisoner let fly with a torrent of abuse.b) to suddenly attack someone, especially with bullets or a weapon that is thrown
18 to be the opposite of what most people think is reasonable, sensible, or normal : He likes to fly in the face of convention.
fly in the face of something
He likes to fly in the face of convention.19 to leave somewhere in order to escape [= flee]: By the time the police arrived, the men had flown.
escape
[transitive] formalBy the time the police arrived, the men had flown.20 to be having a lot of success : The architectural firm has been flying high recently.
be flying high
The architectural firm has been flying high recently.21
fly the nest
a) if a young bird flies the nest, it has grown old enough to look after itself and is no longer dependent on its parents
b) if a young person flies the nest, he or she moves out of their parents' home in order to live independently : Now that the kids have flown the nest, I'm thinking about taking a job abroad.
Now that the kids have flown the nest, I'm thinking about taking a job abroad.22 a plan that will fly will be successful and useful :
plan
[intransitive] American English23 to tell people about an idea, plan etc in order to get their opinion : In my latest book, I wanted to fly the kite for an unfashionable theory. ➔ kite-flying (2)
fly a kite
In my latest book, I wanted to fly the kite for an unfashionable theory.24 used to tell someone to go away, stop saying something, or stop annoying you
go fly a kite
American English spoken25 when a lot of people are talking about something, saying someone has done something wrong etc : Rumours were flying as to how the fire started.
rumours/accusations etc are flying
Rumours were flying as to how the fire started.26 to leave or escape : All my children have flown the coop now.
fly the coop
American English informalAll my children have flown the coop now.27 to have to deal with a situation by guessing what to do, because you know very little about it [= wing it]: Sometimes you'll get back and find that things have changed, so you'll be flying by the seat of your pants for a while.
fly by the seat of your pants
informalSometimes you'll get back and find that things have changed, so you'll be flying by the seat of your pants for a while.
