kite
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for kite, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail, known for gliding and soaring.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use kite
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English cyta, the name for the bird itself. The toy sense came later, named after the bird because a flying kite hovers and glides through the air in a similar way.
Full origin of kite →Frequently asked questions
What does “kite” mean?
The word “kite” means a bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail, known for gliding and soaring. In plain terms, either the soaring bird of prey, the wind-flown toy named after it, or (as a verb) writing a bad cheque or causing something to shoot upward.
How do you pronounce “kite”?
“Kite” is pronounced kyt (/kaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “kite” in a sentence?
Here is “kite” used in a sentence: “A red kite circled slowly above the valley.”
What part of speech is “kite”?
Depending on how it is used, “kite” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “kite” come from?
The word “kite” comes from Old English. From Old English cyta, the name for the bird itself. The toy sense came later, named after the bird because a flying kite hovers and glides through the air in a similar way.
Is “kite” a common word?
“Kite” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “kite” have?
“Kite” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail, known for gliding and soaring.
What is the difference between "kiting a cheque" and simply bouncing one?
To "kite" a cheque means writing or using it against an account that doesn't have enough money to cover it, often as part of a deliberate scheme to exploit the delay before it clears. "Bouncing" a cheque more generally just means it was returned unpaid, without implying the same intentional manipulation.
What does it mean when prices or costs are said to "kite"?
When prices or costs "kite," it means they are rising or increasing rapidly, similar to how a kite quickly climbs upward in the wind.
What kind of bird is a kite, and how is it different from a hawk?
A kite is a bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail, known for gliding and soaring rather than fast, direct pursuit. Hawks generally have broader wings and hunt more actively by diving on prey, giving the two birds noticeably different flight styles.