flight

Everyday

1. A flight is a trip in an aeroplane: «our flight to Dublin». tree →
2. Flight is flying, the act of moving through the air: «birds in flight». tree →
3. A flight of stairs is a set of steps between two floors. tree →
4. Flight is running away from danger: «take flight». tree →

In the lessons

a trip by plane with a time, distance or ticket price; or a set of stairs with a number of steps; in science: birds, bats and insects fly with wings, planes need lift; in history: the first powered flight by the Wright brothers; in everyday life: check-in, boarding, flight times; phrases: «flight of stairs», «in flight», «take flight», «flight attendant»

Examples

• The flight takes 3 hours. tree →
• A plane ticket for the flight costs 150 dollars. tree →
• Each flight of stairs has 12 steps. tree →
• She climbed 4 flights of stairs. tree →
• Our flight to Auckland was late. tree →
• The birds took flight when the dog barked. tree →
• The Wright brothers made the first powered flight. tree →
• Fasten your seat belt during the flight. tree →
• The fox took flight at the sound of the hunters. tree →

Note

Two meanings: a plane trip (time, distance, price) or a set of stairs (steps per flight, a rate). Trap: «4 flights of 12 steps» is 4 × 12 steps, not 4 + 12. Trap: a flight across time zones: the clock time changes by more or less than the flight time.

In Jewish tradition

It means running away in defeat.

Interpretation. Moses' song says a people could not be beaten so badly unless God had given them up. Tradition reads this as saying Israel's victories and defeats depend on its faithfulness.

Examples

• How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had given them over and the LORD had delivered them up? (Torah DEU.32.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• Madmenah is in mad flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee to cover. (Prophets ISA.10.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• And flight shall fail the swift, and the strong shall not exert his strength, neither shall the mighty deliver himself; (Prophets AMO.2.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath. (Writings 1CH.8.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Two meanings: a plane trip (time, distance, price) or a set of stairs (steps per flight, a rate). Trap: «4 flights of 12 steps» is 4 × 12 steps, not 4 + 12. Trap: a flight across time zones: the clock time changes by more or less than the flight time.