kite
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A light frame covered with material that flies in the wind on a string.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
kytIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈkaɪt
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Any of several small graceful hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals
A bird of prey of the family Accipitridae.
Any bird of the subfamily Milvinae, with long wings and weak legs, feeding mostly on carrion and spending long periods soaring; specifically, the red kite (Milvus milvus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans).
A bird of the genus Elanus, having thin pointed wings, that preys on rodents and hunts by hovering; also, any bird of related genera in the subfamily Elaninae.
A lightweight toy or other device, traditionally flat and shaped like a triangle with a segment of a circle attached to its base or like a quadrilateral (see sense 9), carried on the wind and tethered and controlled from the ground by one or more lines.
A tethered object which deflects its position in a medium by obtaining lift and drag in reaction with its relative motion in the medium.
verb
transitive
To cause (something) to move upwards rapidly like a toy kite; also (chiefly US, figuratively) to cause (something, such as costs) to increase rapidly.
intransitivefiguratively
To move rapidly; to rush.
transitiveslang
To tamper with a document or record by increasing the quantity of something beyond its proper amount so that the difference may be unlawfully retained; in particular, to alter a medical prescription for this purpose by increasing the number of pills or other items.
Soar or fly like a kite
“The pilot kited for a long time over the mountains.”
intransitive
To travel by kite, as when kitesurfing.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Any of several small graceful hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals
Used this way, kite is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It stays understated rather than dramatic. It turns up most in family or home contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Slightly formal
- Intensity
- Mild
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Beautiful or graceful
- Usage feel
- Reflective and slightly elevated
Where it naturally appears
- Family/home
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use kite
- “The pilot kited for a long time over the mountains.”verb
- “The businessman kited millions of dollars.”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A barrage balloon with lobes at one end that keep it headed into the wind.
A bob on a kite to provide balance.
Someone who is a very fierce fighter.
A maneuverable kite controlled by two lines and flown with both hands.
A maneuverable kite controlled by two lines and flown with both hands.
Graceful North American black-and-white kite.
Related Words
Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.