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flyby

Or fly-by

[flahy-bahy]

noun

plural

flybys 
  1. the flight of a spacecraft close enough to a celestial object, as a planet, to gather scientific data.

  2. Aeronautics.

    1. Also called flypasta low-altitude flight of an aircraft for the benefit of ground observers.

    2. flyover.



flyby

/ ˈflaɪˌbaɪ /

noun

  1. a flight past a particular position or target, esp the close approach of a spacecraft to a planet or satellite for investigation of conditions

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of flyby1

1950–55, noun use of verb phrase fly by
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On December 27th, 2024, a hockey-puck-shaped asteroid made a close flyby of the Earth, sending major alerts to the planet's asteroid tracking systems to look out for future impacts.

Read more on Space Scoop

For Tigers boss Michael Cheika, his one-year flyby stint at the helm of Tigers finishes empty-handed.

Read more on BBC

The president's Air Force One jet gave a flyby for spectators before he met the drivers and led them for a lap around the circuit.

Read more on BBC

It was for a Boeing VC-25 which was doing a flyby near the Speedway.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“And while each flyby provided data on the tormented moon that exceeded our expectations, the data from this latest — and more distant — flyby really blew our minds. This is the most powerful volcanic event ever recorded on the most volcanic world in our solar system — so that’s really saying something.”

Read more on Salon

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