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Flies Common

Flies has 4 different meanings across 1 category:

Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)

"The director signaled for the crew in the flies to lower the drop curtain just as the actor made his entrance."

2

plural of fly

"The crew spent hours adjusting the lighting rig on the flies before the show began."

3

The open area above a stage where scenery and equipment may be hung.

In plain English: Flies are small insects with two wings that buzz around and land on things to eat.

"The flies buzzed loudly in his ear all afternoon."

Usage: The flies refers to the concealed space directly behind or above a proscenium arch used by theater crews to store and operate hanging scenery, lights, and curtains. It is often confused with "flys," which is an incorrect spelling of this specific theatrical term rather than a plural noun for insects in this context.

Verb
1

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of fly

"The mosquito flies around my head while I try to sleep."

In plain English: To fly means to move through the air using wings or by jumping high into the sky.

"The old window screen had holes that let flies in, so she shut everything tight to keep them out."

Example Sentences
"The flies buzzed loudly in his ear all afternoon." noun
"The flies buzzed around the picnic basket all afternoon." noun
"There are thousands of fruit flies in the kitchen compost bin." noun
"Two stubborn house flies landed on my sandwich before I could eat it." noun
"The old window screen had holes that let flies in, so she shut everything tight to keep them out." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
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Rhyming Words
ies ties sies ries mies pies gies dies abies skies shies plies pries okies blies dries aries vries tries cries
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