fly
2
[ flahy ]
/ flaɪ /
noun, plural flies.
Also called true fly.
any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera, especially of the family Muscidae, as the common housefly.
Angling.
a fishhook dressed with hair, feathers, silk, tinsel, etc., so as to resemble an insect or small fish, for use as a lure or bait.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy.
the constellation Musca.
Idioms for fly
fly in the ointment,
a detrimental factor; detraction: If there's one fly in the ointment, it's that there may not be the money to finish the job.
Origin of fly
2
before 950; Middle English
flīe, Old English
flēoge, flȳge; cognate with Middle Dutch
vliege (Dutch
vlieg), Old High German
flioga (German
Fliege); akin to
fly1
OTHER WORDS FROM fly
fly·less, adjectiveWords nearby fly
British Dictionary definitions for fly in the ointment (1 of 3)
fly
1
/ (flaɪ) /
verb flies, flying, flew or flown
noun plural flies
Derived forms of fly
flyable, adjectiveWord Origin for fly
Old English
flēogan; related to Old Frisian
fliāga, Old High German
fliogan, Old Norse
fljūga
British Dictionary definitions for fly in the ointment (2 of 3)
fly
2
/ (flaɪ) /
noun plural flies
Derived forms of fly
flyless, adjectiveWord Origin for fly
Old English
flēoge; related to Old Norse
fluga Old High German
flioga; see
fly
1
British Dictionary definitions for fly in the ointment (3 of 3)
fly
3
/ (flaɪ) /
adjective flyer or flyest slang
mainly British
knowing and sharp; smart
mainly Scot
furtive or sneaky
noun
on the fly mainly Scot
in secret; sneakily
Word Origin for fly
C19: of uncertain origin
Medical definitions for fly in the ointment
fly
[ flī ]
n.
Any of numerous two-winged insects of the order Diptera.
Scientific definitions for fly in the ointment
fly
[ flī ]
Any of numerous insects of the order Diptera, having one pair of wings and large compound eyes. Flies include the houseflies, horseflies, and mosquitoes. See more at dipteran.
Cultural definitions for fly in the ointment
fly in the ointment
A drawback, especially one that was not at first apparent: “Sharon's lack of experience turned out to be the fly in the ointment when she applied for the job.”
Idioms and Phrases with fly in the ointment
fly in the ointment
A drawback or detrimental factor. For example, The new library is wonderful but there's a fly in the ointment: their catalog isn't complete yet. This term probably alludes to a biblical proverb (Ecclesiastes 10:1): “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour.” [c. 1600]