kite

UK: /ˈkaɪt/ US: /kaɪt/ ,(kīt)

Inflections of 'kite' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

kites

v 3rd person singular

kiting

v pres p

kited

v past

kited

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

kite¹ /kaɪt/   n., v., kit•ed, kit•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a light frame of wood or plastic, covered with some thin material, as paper, cloth, or plastic, to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string.
2. Birds a slim, graceful bird (a hawk) with long, pointed wings and usually a notched or forked tail.

v. [~ + object]

3. Business to write (a bad check) to obtain money or credit.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

kite¹  (kīt), n., v., kit•ed, kit•ing. 
n. 

1. a light frame covered with some thin material, to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string.
2. Birds 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. Cf. black kite, swallow-tailed kite, white-tailed kite.
3. [Naut.] See flying kite. 
4. Banking, Business [Finance.]
   • 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.
   • a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
5. a person who preys on others;
   sharper.

v.i. 

6. Informal Terms to fly or move with a rapid or easy motion like that of a kite.
7. Business to obtain money or credit through kites.

v.t. 

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

• bef. 900 for def. 2; 1655–65 for def. 1; Middle English kyte, Old English cȳta kite, bittern; akin to German Kauz owl

kit′er, n. 
kite′like′, adj. 

kite²  (kīt), n. [Scot. and North Eng.]

1. Scottish Terms kyte.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

kite / kaɪt/ noun

1. a light frame covered with a thin material flown in the wind at the end of a length of string
2. an aeroplane
3. (plural) 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. a person who preys on others
6. a negotiable paper drawn without any actual transaction or assets and designed to obtain money on credit, give an impression of affluence, etc
7. fly a kite ⇒
   See fly114

verb

1. to issue (fictitious papers) to obtain credit or money
2. (intransitive) to soar and glide

Etymology: Old English cӯta; related to Middle High German küze owl, Old Norse kӯta to quarrel