kite

[ kahyt ]

noun

1. a light frame covered with some thin material, to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string.
2. any of several small birds of the hawk family Accipitridae that have long, pointed wings, feed on insects, carrion, reptiles, rodents, and birds, and are noted for their graceful, gliding flight. Compare black kite, swallow-tailed kite, white-tailed kite.
3. Nautical. flying kite.
4. Finance.
   1. a check drawn against uncollected or insufficient funds, as for redepositing, with the intention of creating a false balance in the account by taking advantage of the time lapse required for collection.
   2. a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
5. a person who preys on others; sharper.

verb (used without object)

, kit·ed, kit·ing.

1. Informal. to fly or move with a rapid or easy motion like that of a kite.
2. to obtain money or credit through kites.

verb (used with object)

, kit·ed, kit·ing.

1. to employ (a check or the like) as a kite; to cash or pass (a kite, forged check, etc.).

kite

¹

/ kaɪt /

noun

1. a light frame covered with a thin material flown in the wind at the end of a length of string
2. slang.
   an aeroplane
3. plural nautical any of various light sails set in addition to the working sails of a vessel
4. any diurnal bird of prey of the genera Milvus, Elanus, etc, typically having a long forked tail and long broad wings and usually preying on small mammals and insects: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc)
5. archaic.
   a person who preys on others
6. commerce a negotiable paper drawn without any actual transaction or assets and designed to obtain money on credit, give an impression of affluence, etc
7. fly a kite
   See fly 1
8. high as a kite
   See high

verb

1. to issue (fictitious papers) to obtain credit or money
2. tr to write (a cheque) in anticipation of sufficient funds to cover it
3. intr to soar and glide

kite

²

/ kəɪt /

noun

1. a variant spelling of kyte

Derived Forms

• ˈkiter, noun

Other Words From

• kiter noun
• kitelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kite¹

First recorded before 900 kite fordef 2; 1655–65 kite fordef 1; Middle English kyte, Old English cȳta “kite, bittern”; akin to German Kauz “owl”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kite¹

Old English cӯta; related to Middle High German küze owl, Old Norse kӯta to quarrel

Idioms and Phrases

see go fly a kite ; high as a kite .

Example Sentences

Manned, unmanned, a balloon, a kite—you still have to get the information into the hands of the firefighters.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe not good enough to fly a kite with my face on it through Central Park, but better.

From The Daily Beast

He was a fairly well-known actor already—the star of The Kite Runner.

From The Daily Beast

Founded in 2006 by some entrepreneurial kite surfers, Makani makes flying wind turbines.

From The Daily Beast

The author of The Kite Runner picks his favorite short story collections.

From The Daily Beast

It occurred to him then, for the first time, that a third resource was open—he might cut the rope, and let the kite go free!

From Project Gutenberg

These Eskimos were very fond of kite-flying, for its own sake, without reference to utility!

From Project Gutenberg

The third boat and kite had been damaged beyond repair, but the two left were sufficient.

From Project Gutenberg

It needed only an exertion of will for the soul to hurl the body ashore as wind drives paper; to waft it kite-fashion to the bank.

From Project Gutenberg

Being towed by Chets big kite had became a game that all hands wanted to try.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• answer
• memo
• memorandum
• message
• note
• postcard
• reply
• report