Kite
[kaɪt]
Definition
(noun.) any of several small graceful hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals.
(noun.) plaything consisting of a light frame covered with tissue paper; flown in wind at end of a string.
(noun.) a bank check drawn on insufficient funds at another bank in order to take advantage of the float.
(noun.) a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value.
(verb.) fly a kite; 'Kids were kiting in the park'; 'They kited the Red Dragon model'.
(verb.) soar or fly like a kite; 'The pilot kited for a long time over the mountains'.
(verb.) get credit or money by using a bad check; 'The businessman kited millions of dollars'.
(verb.) increase the amount (of a check) fraudulently; 'He kited many checks'.
Edited by Craig--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) Any raptorial bird of the subfamily Milvinae, of which many species are known. They have long wings, adapted for soaring, and usually a forked tail.
(n.) Fig. : One who is rapacious.
(n.) A light frame of wood or other material covered with paper or cloth, for flying in the air at the end of a string.
(n.) A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light.
(n.) A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry.
(n.) Fictitious commercial paper used for raising money or to sustain credit, as a check which represents no deposit in bank, or a bill of exchange not sanctioned by sale of goods; an accommodation check or bill.
(n.) The brill.
(v. i.) To raise money by "kites;" as, kiting transactions. See Kite, 6.
(n.) The belly.
Editor: Lorna
Definition
n. (Scot.) the belly.—Also Kyte.
n. a rapacious bird of the hawk kind: a rapacious person: a light frame covered with paper for flying in the air attached to a long cord by means of which it is steered: a light and lofty sail: an accommodation bill esp. a mere paper credit.—n. Kite′-fly′ing the dealing in fictitious accommodation paper to raise money.
Inputed by Elisabeth
Unserious Contents or Definition
To dream of flying a kite, denotes a great show of wealth, or business, but with little true soundness to it all. To see the kite thrown upon the ground, foretells disappointment and failure. To dream of making a kite, you will speculate largely on small means and seek to win the one you love by misrepresentations. To see children flying kites, denotes pleasant and light occupation. If the kite ascends beyond the vision high hopes and aspirations will resolve themselves into disappointments and loss.
Typist: Terrence
Examples
- This view shows a kite about to be sent up from an observatory. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Franklin used to fly a kite. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- The window was partly open, and a wire led from the machine on the table through the window to a gigantic kite that a high wind kept flying fully 400 feet above the room. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- And a Quaker flying a kite is a much more ridiculous object than anybody else. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- The machine was to be raised like a kite, with men holding ropes fastened to the end of each wing. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- Hanging on the tail of a kite it photographs the face of mother earth, and, acting quicker than the lightning, it catches and defines the path of that erratic flash. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- He placed himself under a shade to avoid the rain; his kite was raised; a thunder-cloud passed over it; no sign of electricity appeared. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- When a bird rises from the ground it leaps up with head stuck out and expanded tail, so that the body is in the position of a boy’s kite when thrown up. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Franklin's well-known kite experiment followed. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The boy flying a kite has to keep his eye on the kite, and has to note the various pressures of the string on his hand. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- The kite has been glad to receive it, sir, and the sky has been brighter with it. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- I'm as light as a kite when anything's going on! Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- It was quite an affecting sight, I used to think, to see him with the kite when it was up a great height in the air. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- They found in practice that their plan of raising the plane like a kite was impracticable, and that the wind was not strong enough to support it at a proper angle. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- Now if the kite, instead of being stationary in moving air, were to be moved constantly through quiet air it would also stay up. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- For temporary service, as in the case of military operations, the antenna is frequently attached to captive balloons or kites, and so suspended high in air. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
Inputed by Allen