kite
kyt
Kite (noun) means a bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail, known for gliding and soaring. Example: “A red kite circled slowly above the valley.”
noun
1
A bird of prey with long wings and a forked tail, known for gliding and soaring.
"A red kite circled slowly above the valley."
"The kite hung motionless in the air before it dived towards the field."
"Farmers sometimes see a kite riding the warm air above the hills."
2
A light frame covered in fabric or plastic, flown on a string in the wind for fun.
"The children ran along the beach flying a bright red kite."
"Strong winds made it easy to get the kite airborne."
"My dad helped me untangle the string of my kite before we went to the park."
verb
1
To write or use a cheque against an account that doesn't have enough money to cover it.
"He was arrested for kiting cheques across three different banks."
"The clerk realised the customer was trying to kite a cheque from an empty account."
"Banks watch for anyone who might kite cheques between accounts to hide a shortage of money."
2
To rise or increase rapidly, especially used of costs or prices.
"Fuel prices kited after the supply disruption."
"Rents began to kite once the new offices opened in the town centre."
"If demand keeps growing, ticket prices will probably kite before the summer."
How to use kite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither 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.
Common pairings
fly a kite
kite flying
kite a cheque
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Word forms
- Plural
- kites
- Third person singular
- kites
- Past tense
- kited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A red _____ circled slowly above the valley.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for kite
See all rhymes for 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.
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