flying

/flaɪɪŋ/

/ˈflaɪɪŋ/

Other forms: flyings

The act of soaring through the air is flying. You can also use this word to describe anything that's soaring through the air, like a flying squirrel or flying insects.

Use flying for anything that flaps or flutters above the ground, from flying fish to flying turkeys. It's also good for describing things that are propelled or blown into the air: "As the baseball hit the window, I ducked to avoid the flying glass." "The wind picked up and I watched the flying leaves dance around my yard." Some things only appear to fly, like a flying buttress, an architectural projection that "flies" from the side of a building.

Definitions of flying

1. noun

   an instance of traveling by air
   “flying was still an exciting adventure for him”

   synonyms: flight

   types:

   acrobatics, aerobatics, stunt flying, stunting

   the performance of stunts while in flight in an aircraft

   blind flying, blind landing

   using only instruments for flying an aircraft because you cannot see through clouds or mists etc.

   ballooning

   flying in a balloon

   fly-by, flyover, flypast

   a flight at a low altitude (usually of military aircraft) over spectators on the ground

   glide, gliding, sailing, sailplaning, soaring

   the activity of flying a glider

   maiden flight

   the first flight of its kind

   overflight

   a flight by an aircraft over a particular area (especially over an area in foreign territory)

   pass

   a flight or run by an aircraft over a target

   solo

   a flight in which the aircraft pilot is unaccompanied

   sortie

   (military) an operational flight by a single aircraft (as in a military operation)

   low level flight, terrain flight

   flight at very low altitudes

   hang gliding

   gliding in a hang glider

   paragliding, parasailing

   gliding in a parasail

   spin, tailspin

   a rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral

   type of:

   air, air travel, aviation

   travel via aircraft
2. adjective

   moving swiftly
   “played the difficult passage with flying fingers”

   synonyms: fast-flying

   moving

   in motion
3. adjective

   hurried and brief
   “paid a flying visit”

   “took a flying glance at the book”

   synonyms: fast, quick

   hurried

   moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste