kite

American  

[kahyt] / kaɪt /

noun

1. a light frame covered with some thin material, to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string.

2. any of several small birds of the hawk family Accipitridae that have long, pointed wings, feed on insects, carrion, reptiles, rodents, and birds, and are noted for their graceful, gliding flight.

3. Nautical. flying kite.

4. Finance.

   1. a check drawn against uncollected or insufficient funds, as for redepositing, with the intention of creating a false balance in the account by taking advantage of the time lapse required for collection.

   2. a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.

5. a person who preys on others; sharper.

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verb (used without object)

kited, kiting

1. Informal. to fly or move with a rapid or easy motion like that of a kite.

2. to obtain money or credit through kites.

verb (used with object)

kited, kiting

1. to employ (a check or the like) as a kite; to cash or pass (a kite, forged check, etc.).

kite ¹ British  

/ kaɪt /

noun

1. a light frame covered with a thin material flown in the wind at the end of a length of string

2. slang an aeroplane

3. (plural) nautical any of various light sails set in addition to the working sails of a vessel

4. any diurnal bird of prey of the genera Milvus, Elanus, etc, typically having a long forked tail and long broad wings and usually preying on small mammals and insects: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc)

5. archaic a person who preys on others

6. commerce a negotiable paper drawn without any actual transaction or assets and designed to obtain money on credit, give an impression of affluence, etc

7. See fly 1

8. See high

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verb

1. to issue (fictitious papers) to obtain credit or money

2. (tr) to write (a cheque) in anticipation of sufficient funds to cover it

3. (intr) to soar and glide

kite ² British  

/ kəɪt /

noun

1. a variant spelling of kyte

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kite Idioms  

1. see go fly a kite; high as a kite.

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Usage

What else does kite mean? In prison slang, a kite is a message or note. Historically, kites were contraband notes passed between prisoners or smuggled out of prison.

Other Word Forms

• kitelike adjective
• kiter noun

Etymology

Origin of kite

First recorded before 900 kite for def. 2; 1655–65 kite for def. 1; Middle English kyte, Old English cȳta “kite, bittern”; akin to German Kauz “owl”

Explanation

A kite is a diamond-shaped flying toy on a string that's usually made of fabric or paper. If someone tells you "to go fly a kite," they want to get rid of you. If you follow their directions, however, you will end up having fun. When you fly a kite, you unspool your string as the kite catches a breeze and rises higher and higher in the air. Kites were first flown in China, most likely around the fifth century BCE. Another kind of kite is the small hawk famous in ancient Egyptian mythology as the animal form taken by Isis when she brought the dead back to life. The toy kite is named after the bird, since they both soar through the air.

Example Sentences

For hours on a crisp, blue-sky day, kite flyers mingled with sign-wavers, sharing space on the National Mall as they pursued their dueling missions.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Kashif Siddiqui is a pharmacist, but admits his kite flying is a bit rusty.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Kite flying is not just about beauty, it's about the battle to knock your opponent's kite out of the sky by cutting their string.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

The two leaders will attend a traditional kite festival and visit the Sabarmati Ashram, the spiritual retreat where Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence struggle, lived for many years.

From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026

The 1991 box was like the kite on a snapped string, a loose piece of her that Fred had caught.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

Related Words

• answer
• memo
• memorandum
• message
• note
• postcard
• reply
• report