sky

[skahy]

noun

plural

skies 

1. the region of the clouds or the upper air; the upper atmosphere of the earth.

   airplanes in the sky; cloudy skies.

2. the heavens or firmament, appearing as a great arch or vault.

3. the supernal or celestial heaven.

   They looked to the sky for help.

4. the climate.

   the sunny skies of Italy.

5. Obsolete.,  a cloud.

verb (used with object)

skied, skyed, skying. 

1. Informal.,  to raise, throw, or hit aloft or into the air.

2. Informal.,  to hang (a painting) high on a wall, above the line of vision.

verb phrase

1. sky up,  (of prey, when flushed) to fly straight upward.

sky

/ skaɪ /

noun

1. (sometimes plural) the apparently dome-shaped expanse extending upwards from the horizon that is characteristically blue or grey during the day, red in the evening, and black at night

2. outer space, as seen from the earth

3. (often plural) weather, as described by the appearance of the upper air

   sunny skies

4. the source of divine power; heaven

5. informal,  the highest level of attainment

   the sky's the limit

6. highly; extravagantly

verb

1. rowing to lift (the blade of an oar) too high before a stroke

2. informal,  (tr) to hit (a ball) high in the air

sky

1. The atmosphere, as seen from a given point on the Earth's surface. The sky appears to be blue because the wavelengths associated with blue light are scattered more easily than those that are associated with the other colors.

Other Word Forms

• skyless adjective
• skylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sky¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old Norse skȳ “cloud,” cognate with Old English scēo “cloud”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sky¹

C13: from Old Norse skӯ; related to Old English scio cloud, Old Saxon skio, Old Norse skjār transparent skin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to the skies, with lavishness or enthusiasm; extravagantly: Also to the sky

   to praise someone to the skies.

2. out of a / the clear sky, without advance notice or warning; abruptly: Also out of athe clear blue sky

   An old beau phoned her out of a clear sky.

More idioms and phrases containing sky

• blow sky-high
• out of a clear blue sky
• pie in the sky
• reach for the sky

Example Sentences

In 2023, it also became the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in Europe, meaning its unspoiled view of the night sky is protected for current and future generations.

Read more on BBC

The debris, usually bits of rock or ice, hits the Earth's atmosphere and burns up because of the friction, sending light streaks across the night sky.

Read more on BBC

The sun is perched on the horizon, the sky is pink and blue, there are trees and plants.

Read more on BBC

The blast turned the night skies across the South Bay bright orange and sent out a roar that reverberated for miles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When she finished, a priest led a prayer, putting his hand on Malca’s head as the others raised their hands to the sky.

Read more on Los Angeles Times