flight

¹

[ flahyt ]

noun

1. the act, manner, or power of flying.
2. the distance covered or the course taken by a flying object:

   a 500-mile flight; the flight of the ball.

3. a trip by an airplane, glider, etc.
4. a scheduled trip on an airline:

   a 5 o'clock flight.

5. a number of beings or things flying or passing through the air together:

   a flight of geese.

   Synonyms: flock

6. the basic tactical unit of military air forces, consisting of two or more aircraft.
7. the act, principles, or technique of flying an airplane:

   flight training.

8. a journey into or through outer space:

   a rocket flight.

9. swift movement, transition, or progression:

   the flight of time.

   Synonyms: dash, rush

10. a soaring above or transcending ordinary bounds:

    a flight of fancy.

11. a series of steps between one floor or landing of a building and the next.
12. a sampling of several wines or beers, or of a particular type of food, for the purpose of comparative tasting:

    a customized wine flight for four people; a flight of appetizers.

13. Archery.
    1. flight arrow.
    2. the distance such an arrow travels when shot.

verb (used without object)

1. (of wild fowls) to fly in coordinated flocks.

flight

²

[ flahyt ]

noun

1. an act or instance of fleeing or running away; hasty departure.

flight

¹

/ flaɪt /

noun

1. the act of fleeing or running away, as from danger
2. put to flight
   to cause to run away; rout
3. take flight or take to flight
   to run away or withdraw hastily; flee

flight

²

/ flaɪt /

noun

1. the act, skill, or manner of flying
2. a journey made by a flying animal or object
3. 1. a scheduled airline journey
   2. an aircraft flying on such a journey
4. a group of flying birds or aircraft

   a flight of swallows

5. the basic tactical unit of a military air force
6. a journey through space, esp of a spacecraft
7. rapid movement or progress
8. a soaring mental journey above or beyond the normal everyday world

   a flight of fancy

9. 1. a single line of hurdles across a track in a race
   2. a series of such hurdles
10. a bird's wing or tail feather; flight feather
11. a feather or plastic attachment fitted to an arrow or dart to give it stability in flight
12. See flight arrow
13. the distance covered by a flight arrow
14. sport cricket
    1. a flighted movement imparted to a ball, dart, etc
    2. the ability to flight a ball
15. angling a device on a spinning lure that revolves rapidly
16. a set of steps or stairs between one landing or floor and the next
17. a large enclosed area attached to an aviary or pigeon loft where the birds may fly but not escape

verb

1. tr sport to cause (a ball, dart, etc) to float slowly or deceptively towards its target
2. intr (of wild fowl) to fly in groups
3. tr to shoot (a bird) in flight
4. tr to fledge (an arrow or a dart)

Word History and Origins

Origin of flight¹

First recorded in before 900; Middle English; Old English flyht; cognate with Dutch vlucht; akin to fly ²

Origin of flight²

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English flight, flught, flyte, Old English fliht, flyht; cognate with German Flucht; akin to flee

Word History and Origins

Origin of flight¹

Old English flyht (unattested); related to Old Frisian flecht , Old High German fluht , Old Norse flōtti

Origin of flight²

Old English flyht ; related to Middle Dutch vlucht , Old Saxon fluht

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put to flight, to force to flee or run away; rout:

   She succeeded in putting the intruder to flight.

2. take flight, to retreat; run away; flee: Also take to flight.

   The wild animals took flight before the onrushing fire.

More idioms and phrases containing flight

• put to flight
• take flight

Example Sentences

To attend therapy or hospital appointments, Mia has to shuffle down two flights of stairs on her bottom, while her mother carries her wheelchair.

From BBC

“But when we storyboarded it, what we found was, she didn’t earn this flight.”

From Los Angeles Times

A platinum package could get you a flight, whereas silver might land you a "comfortable ride" in the back of a lorry.

From BBC

He kept at it for the next 21 years, which gives “Sabbath Queen” the rare opportunity to capture its subject in flight, so to speak.

From New York Times

I did a lot of flight training, like flying and stunt training, with everyone when I got to London.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrival
• departure
• shuttle
• transport
• trip