kite

1 of 2

noun

ˈkīt 

1

: a light frame covered with paper, cloth, or plastic, often provided with a stabilizing tail, and designed to be flown in the air at the end of a long string

2

: any of various usually small hawks (family Accipitridae) with long narrow wings and often a notched or forked tail

3

: a person who preys on others

4

: a check drawn against uncollected funds in a bank account or fraudulently raised before cashing

5

: a light sail used in a light breeze usually in addition to the regular working sails

especially : spinnaker

kitelike

ˈkīt-ˌlīk 

adjective

kite

2 of 2

verb

kited; kiting

transitive verb

1

: to use (a bad check) to get credit or money

2

: to cause to soar

kited the prices they charged wealthy clients

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go in a rapid, carefree, or flighty manner

b

: to rise rapidly : soar

2

: to get money or credit by a kite

kiter noun

Synonyms

Noun

• bloodsucker
• buzzard
• harpy
• predator
• shark
• vampire
• vulture
• wolf

Examples of kite in a Sentence

Noun

The children were flying kites.

characterized the financial advisors as kites who took advantage of their customers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Before the invention of modern weather balloons in the 1930s, scientists flew kites—and later, hot air balloons—equipped with thermometers to get such measurements. —Danielle Beurteaux, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024

One of their first products was a drone to tackle incendiary balloons and kites launched by Hamas. —David Hambling, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

Verb

In kiting, athletes race on boards that fly above the water. —NBC News, 23 July 2024

People fly kites during the celebrations to mark India's Independence Day in New Delhi on August 15, 2023. —Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 4 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cȳta; akin to Middle High German kūze owl

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1839, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing kite

• as high as a kite
• box kite
• go fly a kite

Kids Definition

kite

noun

ˈkīt

1

: any of various usually small hawks with long narrow wings and a deeply forked tail

2

: a light covered frame for flying in the air at the end of a long string