flight
flight
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "flight" is /flaɪt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
/flaɪt/
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/aɪ/ - diphthong (as in "kite")
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: flight
Plural: flights
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The act or process of moving through the air, especially by means of wings.
Synonyms: aerial movement, soaring, aviation, gliding, flying
Antonyms: landing, descent, grounding
Definition 2: A scheduled journey by an aircraft.
Synonyms: trip, journey, passage, mission, leg
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this refers to a specific type of journey)
Definition 3: A rapid escape or retreat.
Synonyms: escape, hurried departure, retreat, fleeing, exodus
Antonyms: stand, confrontation, arrival, return
Definition 4: A series of stairs or steps between one landing or floor and the next.
Synonyms: staircase, stairway, steps, run of stairs
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this refers to a structural element)
Definition 5: A group of birds or aircraft flying together.
Synonyms: flock, squadron, formation, covey, wing
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this refers to a collective noun)
Examples of Use
Books: "The hobbits had not been long in the wood when they heard a sound that brought them to a sudden halt. It was the noise of a great flight of birds." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, July 1954)
Newspapers: "Kenya Airways announced cancellations and delays for several domestic flights due to adverse weather conditions." ( Daily Nation, June 2024)
Online Publications: "Scientists are tracking the migratory flight patterns of monarch butterflies across North America, noting significant changes in recent decades." ( National Geographic Online, May 2024)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the film Top Gun: Maverick, much of the plot revolves around preparing for and executing a highly complex combat flight mission. (Paramount Pictures, May 2022)
Entertainment Platforms (Video Games): Players in the popular game Microsoft Flight Simulator can experience the intricacies of piloting various aircraft, from takeoff to landing, focusing on realistic flight dynamics. (Asobo Studio, August 2020)
General Public Discourse: "After hours of delays, our flight to London finally departed last night." (Common conversation, referring to air travel)
General Public Discourse: "The sudden flight of capital from the emerging markets caused concern among economists." (Economic discussion, referring to a rapid withdrawal of funds)
General Public Discourse: "He took a flight of stairs two at a time to reach the top floor." (Everyday description of moving between building levels)
10 Quotes Using Flight
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." (Leonardo da Vinci)
"The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." (Plato)
"Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings." (Victor Hugo)
"A bird cannot fly with one wing only. Human space flight cannot develop any further without the active participation of women." (Valentina Tereshkova)
"What other people may find in poetry or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive." (Arnold Palmer)
"I leave no trace of wings in the air, but I am glad I have had my flight." (Rabindranath Tagore)
"The ultimate judge of your swing is the flight of the ball." (Ben Hogan)
"But meanwhile, time flies; it flies never to be regained." (Virgil)
"Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind." (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
Etymology
The word "flight" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back to ancient Germanic languages.
Think of the Old English word "flyht" (pronounced something like "fleekht"). This was around over a thousand years ago and already meant "the act of flying" or "a rapid escape." It came directly from the verb "fleon," which meant "to fly" or "to flee."
So, the very first known uses and meanings of "flight" were tied to both the idea of soaring through the air (like a bird) and the idea of running away quickly (like someone fleeing danger).
Over time, as the English language evolved, "flyht" transformed into our modern "flight." We kept both original senses of the word. We still talk about the "flight of an airplane" (the flying aspect) and "taking flight from a difficult situation" (the escape aspect). The meaning of a "flight of stairs" came a bit later, developing from the idea of a "run" or "course" of stairs, similar to a "run" or "course" in the air.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Flight
Take flight: To begin flying, or to run away quickly.
In full flight: Moving rapidly, usually in escape.
Put to flight: To cause someone or something to run away.
Flight of fancy: An imaginative but unrealistic idea.
Flight risk: A person who is likely to flee or escape, especially from legal custody.
A flight of stairs: A continuous series of steps between landings.
Flight path: The route taken by an aircraft or projectile.
The bird's flight: Referring to how a bird moves through the air.
Baton flight: The trajectory of a baton when thrown into the air.
Flight attendant: A person who assists passengers on an aircraft.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of flight from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
