flight Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a formation of aircraft in flight
  2. noun an instance of traveling by air
    flying.
    • flying was still an exciting adventure for him
  3. noun a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next
    flight of stairs; flight of steps.
  4. noun the act of escaping physically
    escape.
    • he made his escape from the mental hospital
    • the canary escaped from its cage
    • his flight was an indication of his guilt
  5. noun an air force unit smaller than a squadron
  6. noun passing above and beyond ordinary bounds
    • a flight of fancy
    • flights of rhetoric
    • flights of imagination
  7. noun the path followed by an object moving through space
    trajectory.
  8. noun a flock of flying birds
  9. noun a scheduled trip by plane between designated airports
    • I took the noon flight to Chicago
  10. verb shoot a bird in flight
  11. verb fly in a flock
    • flighting wild geese
  12. verb decorate with feathers
    fledge.
    • fledge an arrow

WordNet

Flight noun
Etymology
AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fleógan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fleón to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. See Flee, Fly.
Definitions
  1. The act or flying; a passing through the air by the help of wings; volitation; mode or style of flying.
    Like the night owl's lazy flight. Shak.
  2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape or expected evil; hasty departure.
    Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. Matt. xxiv. 20.
    Fain by flight to save themselves. Shak.
  3. Lofty elevation and excursion;a mounting; a soaing; as, a flight of imagination, ambition, folly.
    Could he have kept his spirit to that flight, He had been happy. Byron.
    His highest flights were indeed far below those of Taylor. Macaulay.
  4. A number of beings or things passing through the air together; especially, a flock of birds flying in company; the birds that fly or migrate together; the birds produced in one season; as, a flight of arrows. Swift.
    Swift flights of angels ministrant. Milton.
    Like a flight of fowl Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts. Shak.
  5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another. Parker.
  6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of shooting with it. See Shaft. Obs.
    Challenged Cupid at the flight. Shak.
    Not a flight drawn home E'er made that haste that they have. Beau. & Fl.
  7. The husk or glume of oats. Prov. Eng. Wright.
  8. a trip made by or in a flying vehicle, as an airplane, spacecraft, or aeronautical balloon.
  9. A scheduled flight{8} -- to take a flight{9}. Syn. -- Pair; set. See Pair.

Webster 1913