noun

1. 1. a number of warships under one command, usually in a definite area of operation
   2. the entire naval force of a country; navy
2. any group of ships, trucks, buses, airplanes, etc. acting together or under one control

Etymology: ME flete < OE fleot < fleotan, to float: see fleet

intransitive verb

1. Obsolete to float; swim
2. to move swiftly; flit; fly
3. Archaic to pass away swiftly; disappear

Etymology: ME fleten < OE fleotan, akin to Ger fliessen < IE *pleud- < base *pleu-, flow

transitive verb

1. Rare to pass away (time)
2. Naut. to change the position of (a rope, pulley block, etc.)

adjective

1. swift; rapid
2. Old Poet. evanescent

noun

Etymology: ME flete < OE fleot, akin to Du vliet: base as in fleet