flight Hear it!

Jump To: synonymsSynonyms · examplesUsage Examples · quotesQuotes · linkLink/Cite
Also found in: idiomsAH Idiom Dictionary
flight1 definition

flight (flīt)

noun

  1. the act, manner, or power of flying or moving through space
  2. the distance covered or that can be covered at one time by an airplane, bird, projectile, etc.
  3. a group of things flying through the air together a flight of birds, arrows, etc.
    1. a military flight formation
    2. the smallest tactical unit in an air force; specif., in the U.S. Air Force, a subdivision of a squadron
  5. an airplane scheduled to fly a certain route at a certain time
  6. a trip by airplane or spacecraft
  7. an outburst or soaring above the ordinary a flight of fancy
  8. a set of stairs, as between landings or floors
  9. a flight arrow
  10. Sports a division of contestants grouped according to ability

Etymology: ME fliht < OE flyht (akin to OS fluht, Du vlucht) < base of fleogan, fly

intransitive verb

to fly in numbers: said of birds
flight Idioms

take flight

to take wing, take off, etc.; become airborne and fly
flight2 definition

flight (flīt)

noun

a fleeing from or as from danger

Etymology: ME fliht, fluht < OE flyht < base of fleon, flee

flight Idioms

put to flight

to force to flee

take (to) flight

to run away; flee

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms flight idiom

flight Synonyms

flight

n.

  1. Act of remaining aloft

    flying, soaring, winging, gliding, volitation, hovering, cruising.

  2. Travel by air

    aviation, aerial navigation, aeronautics, flying, space flight, air transport, stratospheric travel, space probe, ballooning, hang gliding, sailplaning, trip by air, hop*, hedgehopping*.

  3. Flight conceived figuratively

    effort, inspiration, sublime conception; see fancy 2, imagination 1.

  4. Act of fleeing

    fleeing, running away, retreating; see escape 1, retreat 1.

  5. Stairs

    steps, staircase, ascent; see stairs.

put to flight

chase away, rout, scatter, scare off; see defeat 1, 2, rout.

take (to) flight

flee, run away, fly, decamp; see escape, leave 1, retreat 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

flight Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • stair: Flights of stairs lead to the upper floors, otherwise they are reached via a lift, which has Braille controls.

Converse of object

  • schedule: Worldwide, the number of scheduled flights is fairly stable, with a 1 % growth recorded year on year.

Adjective modifier

  • cheap: Flight to New York, cheap flight to New York.. .

Modifies a noun

  • attendant: A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets.

Noun used with modifier

  • charter: Most European countries have charter flights directly to Sharm El Sheikh Airport, for considerably fair prices.. .
flight usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

flight quotes

And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night.

-Arnold, Matthew

It wasn't by accident that the Gettysburg address was so short. The laws of prose writing are as immutable as those of flight, of mathematics, of physics.

-Hemingway, Ernest Millar

Here are sweet peas, on tiptoe for a flight, With wings of gentle flush o'er delicate white.

-Keats,John

flight quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"flight." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/flight>

APA Style

flight. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/flight

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment