[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/fly/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [F](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/f/) / fly # fly verb (fly, flies, flew, flown, flying); noun (a fly, flies) «fly» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To fly is to move through the air with wings, like a bird, an insect or a plane. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#m1) 2. To fly is to travel by plane, or to make a kite, plane or drone move in the air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#m2) 3. A fly is a small insect with two wings, like a housefly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#m3) 4. A flag flies when it is up on a pole. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#m4) 5. Time flies when it passes very quickly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#m5) 6. The fly on trousers is the opening with a zip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#m6) ### In the lessons In school maths: an action with distance, speed and time (a plane flies 500 km an hour); birds that fly away leave the group, birds that fly in join it; flies can be counted. In science: birds, bats and insects fly; flies have 6 legs; how planes stay up. In everyday life: flying to see family, flying a kite. Phrases: «fly away», «fly a kite», «time flies», «on the fly», «wouldn't hurt a fly» (is very gentle). ### Examples - A plane flies 300 miles in an hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x1) - 6 birds fly away from the tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x2) - 4 more birds fly in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x3) - A frog catches 12 flies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x4) - We flew to Dublin to see my cousins. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x5) - Let's fly my kite on the hill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x6) - A fly has 6 legs like all insects. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x7) - Time flies when you're having fun! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x8) - “Shall we swim or fly, Peter?” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/#x9) ### Note Past «flew», past participle «flown»; he/she «flies». Plural of the insect «flies». Maths: «fly away» takes away from a group, «fly in» adds. With «per hour» it is a speed: distance = speed × time. Trap: a fly is an insect with 6 legs, but a spider is not. ## In Jewish tradition It means birds flying and the insects in the plague of swarms against Egypt. **Interpretation.** The swarms of flies are read as one of the ten plagues. Tradition says they made Pharaoh begin to give in. ### Examples - And God said: 'Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.' (Torah GEN.1.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fly/#x1) - And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one. (Torah EXO.8.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fly/#x2) - And the LORD did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses; and in all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by reason of the swarms of flies. (Torah EXO.8.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fly/#x3) - But man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. (Writings JOB.5.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fly/#x4) - He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats in all their borders. (Writings PSA.105.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fly/#x5) - Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold a flying roll. (Prophets ZEC.5.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fly/#x6) ### Note Past «flew», past participle «flown»; he/she «flies». Plural of the insect «flies». Maths: «fly away» takes away from a group, «fly in» adds. With «per hour» it is a speed: distance = speed × time. Trap: a fly is an insect with 6 legs, but a spider is not. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «fly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«fly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fly.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «fly» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/fly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«fly» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/fly.html) on Mova free.