kite
gb/kˈaɪt/ us/kˈaɪt/
A2
English
~ 8900
papírsárkány, kánya, az egekbe szökik, fedezetlen csekkekkel csal, csalásra használt fedezetlen csekk, börtönbeli írásos üzenet
NOUN
A2
1
papírsárkány
A2
Usage pattern:
to fly a kite
The children spent the afternoon flying a bright red kite in the park.
A gyerekek az egész délutánt egy élénkpiros papírsárkány eregetésével töltötték a parkban.
A sudden gust of wind pulled the kite higher into the sky.
Egy hirtelen széllökés még magasabbra vitte a papírsárkányt az égen.
He bought a new stunt kite that can turn quickly in the air.
They held a kite festival on the beach every spring.
She let the string go, and the kite drifted down to the sand.
Learner examples
The boy is flying a kite in the field.
A fiú papírsárkányt ereget a mezőn.
I want to buy a new kite for my daughter.
Új papírsárkányt szeretnék venni a lányomnak.
There is not enough wind to fly a kite today.
The kite is very high in the sky.
The string of my kite is too short.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"play kite"* instead of *"fly a kite"*. Use the verb *fly*: *"The children are flying a kite"*, not *"playing kite"*. Some also confuse *kite* with *parachute* or *balloon*; a kite is always held by a string from the ground.
Meaning
toy that flies on a string
Collocations
fly a kite
|kite string
|paper kite
|kite festival
|kite flying
Synonyms
flying toy (A descriptive phrase that explains what a kite is, but is less specific and not a fixed dictionary word.)
Antonyms
stone (A heavy object that naturally falls instead of flying; used here as a rough conceptual opposite to a light flying toy.)
Themes
leisure
|children
|outdoors
|daily_life
|sports
Definition
A light toy made of paper or plastic that you fly in the air on a long string when it is windy.
A light framework covered with paper, plastic, or cloth, flown in the air at the end of a long string, usually as a toy or for sport.
NOUN
B1
2
kánya
C1
Usage pattern:
a [type/color] kite
A red kite circled slowly above the fields, searching for food.
Egy vörös kánya lassan körözött a mezők fölött, élelem után kutatva.
Conservation efforts have helped the kite return to many parts of the country.
A természetvédelmi erőfeszítéseknek köszönhetően a kánya az ország sok részére visszatért.
We watched a kite hover almost motionless in the strong wind.
The farmer pointed out a kite nesting in the tall tree by the river.
Kites and other birds of prey are very sensitive to changes in their habitat.
Learner examples
We saw a large kite flying high over the valley.
Egy nagy kányát láttunk magasan repülni a völgy felett.
The red kite is a beautiful wild bird.
A vörös kánya gyönyörű vadmadár.
Kites eat small animals and dead animals.
A kite has long wings and a special forked tail.
Many kites live in that forest area.
Common mistake:
Learners often know only the toy meaning and are confused when they see *kite* in nature texts, thinking it refers to something man-made. Remember that in biology, *kite* is a type of bird of prey, similar to a hawk but a different group.
Meaning
medium-sized bird of prey
Collocations
red kite
|black kite
|soaring kite
|kite population
|kite conservation
Synonyms
hawk (A similar bird of prey; often used generally, but *hawk* and *kite* are different groups of birds in biology.)
Antonyms
prey (In this context, the opposite role in the food chain: a kite is a hunter, while prey is what is hunted.)
Themes
animals
|nature
Definition
A wild bird that eats small animals and dead animals, with long wings and usually a tail that looks like it has two points.
A medium-sized bird of prey with long, narrow wings and often a forked tail, that feeds mainly on small animals or carrion.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
[something] kites to [a level/amount]
Rents have kited in the city over the last two years.
Az elmúlt két évben az egekbe szöktek a lakbérek a városban.
After the announcement, the company’s share price kited to a record high.
A bejelentés után a vállalat részvényárfolyama rekordmagasságba szökött.
Food costs kited so fast that many families struggled to keep up.
Ticket prices kited overnight, angering many fans.
The number of subscribers kited after the app went viral.
Learner examples
House prices kited last year in this area.
Tavaly ezen a környéken az egekbe szöktek a lakásárak.
The cost of gas kited after the war started.
A háború kitörése után az egekbe szökött a gáz ára.
Our sales kited when we lowered the price.
The number of users kited in only one month.
His medical bills kited to thousands of dollars.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this verb means physically flying like a toy kite. In this sense it is used about numbers, prices, or amounts, not about people or objects literally moving. In formal writing, verbs like *rise sharply* or *increase rapidly* are more common than *kite*.
Meaning
to rise very quickly
Collocations
prices kited
|costs kited up
|rates kited to
|sales kited
|rent kited overnight
Synonyms
skyrocket (Very close in meaning and register; *skyrocket* is more common in modern news and conversation.)
Antonyms
plummet (Means to fall very suddenly and quickly, the opposite direction of *kite* in this sense.)
Themes
business
|numbers
|news
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go up very fast, or to make something go up very fast, especially prices or numbers.
To move or cause something to move to a much higher level very quickly, especially in price, value, or amount.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
to kite [a check/payment]
The accountant was arrested after he tried to kite several large checks between two banks.
A könyvelőt letartóztatták, miután több nagy összegű fedezetlen csekket próbált körbefuttatni két bank között.
They uncovered a complex scheme to kite payments and inflate the company’s cash balance.
Egy összetett csalási sémát tártak fel, amelyben fedezetlen fizetési tételeket futtattak körbe, hogy magasabbnak mutassák a vállalat készpénzegyenlegét.
He lost his job when the bank discovered he had been kiting checks for months.
The report alleges that the firm kited millions of dollars to hide its real financial position.
She was charged with conspiracy to kite checks across multiple accounts.
Learner examples
The man went to prison because he tried to kite many checks.
A férfi börtönbe került, mert sok fedezetlen csekkel próbált csalni.
The company director kited payments to make the bank balance look higher.
A cég igazgatója fedezetlen kifizetésekkel csalt, hogy magasabbnak mutassa a bankszámla egyenlegét.
Police say the group kited checks between three banks.
The bank closed his account after he kited a large check.
They found that an employee was kiting checks to steal money.
Common mistake:
This sense is specialized and often confused with the more general meaning of *kite* as *to rise quickly*. In legal or financial news, *to kite checks* always refers to a kind of fraud, not to prices going up or to flying toys.
Meaning
to commit check kiting fraud
Collocations
kite checks
|kite a check
|check-kiting scheme
|kited millions of dollars
|kiting operation
Synonyms
defraud (A more general and formal verb for cheating someone for money; *kite* is specific to this check-related method.)
Antonyms
reimburse (Means to pay money back correctly; opposed to taking money dishonestly through check kiting.)
Themes
business
|law
|finance
Definition
To cheat a bank or company by writing checks when there is not enough money in the account, moving the money around to make it look like there is more than there really is.
To obtain illegal credit or create the appearance of funds by writing checks or using other payment instruments on accounts that do not have sufficient money, often by moving them rapidly between banks.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
to write/pass a kite
He admitted that the deposit was just a kite and that there were no funds to cover it.
Elismerte, hogy a befizetés mögött csak egy csalásra használt fedezetlen csekk állt, és nem volt pénz a fedezetére.
The auditors discovered several kites moving between the company’s accounts.
A könyvvizsgálók több, a cég számlái között mozgatott, csalásra használt fedezetlen csekket fedeztek fel.
The bank refused to honor the kite and notified the authorities.
Investigators traced a series of kites used to keep the account appearing positive.
The accountant had been using paper kites to hide the company’s real losses.
Learner examples
The bank found that the check was a kite.
A bank megállapította, hogy a csekknek nem volt fedezete, és csalásra használták.
Police say the man used many kites to fool the bank.
A rendőrség szerint a férfi sok fedezetlen csekket használt a bank megtévesztésére.
The company’s account was full of kites, not real money.
The auditor reported every kite to the manager.
The bank will not pay a kite when there is no money in the account.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is simply the toy meaning, but in banking a *kite* can be a bad check used for fraud. This is specialized vocabulary mainly for legal or financial contexts.
Meaning
fraudulent check or draft
Collocations
write a kite
|pass a kite
|cover the kite
|worthless kite
|paper kites
Synonyms
bad check (A very close everyday term; *bad check* is more general, while *kite* suggests it is used in an ongoing fraud scheme.)
Antonyms
valid check (A check that has enough funds and is accepted; the opposite of a fraudulent or worthless *kite*.)
Themes
business
|law
|finance
Definition
A check that someone writes even though there is not enough money in the bank, used to trick a bank or company.
A check or similar payment instrument that is knowingly written or circulated without sufficient funds in the account, used as part of a check-kiting scheme.
NOUN
C2
SLANG
6
Usage pattern:
to send/write a kite
He sent a kite to the nurse asking for a medical appointment.
Írásos kérvényt küldött az ápolónőnek, hogy orvosi időpontot kérjen.
In that jail, you have to file a kite if you want to see your lawyer.
Abban a börtönben írásos kérvényt kell beadnod, ha látni akarod az ügyvédedet.
The inmate passed a kite to his cellmate through the bars.
She wrote a kite to the counselor to ask about her release date.
Officers read every kite before it reaches the prison administration.
Learner examples
The prisoner wrote a kite to his family.
A rab írásos üzenetet küldött a családjának.
In this prison, you must send a kite if you want help.
Ebben a börtönben írásos kérvényt kell beadnod, ha segítséget akarsz.
He passed a kite to his friend in the next cell.
She sent a kite to the officer to ask a question.
The guard took the kite and read it.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this slang meaning in normal everyday situations. Outside prisons or shows about prisons, *kite* is not used for letters. In most contexts, just say *letter*, *note*, or *message*.
Meaning
slang for prison letter/note
Collocations
send a kite
|write a kite
|legal kite
|medical kite
|drop a kite
Synonyms
note (A very general word for a short written message; *kite* is specific to prison slang and context.)
Antonyms
phone call (In prison, a spoken call can be seen as an alternative way to communicate instead of sending a written kite.)
Themes
prison
|communication
|slang
|law
Definition
(US prison slang) A short letter or note that a prisoner sends inside the prison, for example to another prisoner or to an officer.
(US prison slang) A written note, request, or letter passed between prisoners or between a prisoner and staff, especially in jails or prisons.
Grammar
Dictionary form
kite
IPA
GB/kˈaɪt/
US/kˈaɪt/
Syllables & stress
kite (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (kite)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: kite
- Plural: kites
Verb
- Base: kite
- 3rd Person Singular: kites
- Present Participle: kiting
- Past: kited
Word family
Forms
kites
noun
kiting
verb
kited
verb
Related words
kiter
noun
kitesurfing
noun
kiteboarding
noun
Expressions
as high as a kite
1/ˈæz hˈaɪ ˈæz ə kˈaɪt/
idiom
informal
very drunk or on drugs
Very drunk or very affected by drugs, so that you do not feel or act normal.
Examples
- By midnight he was as high as a kite and talking nonsense.
- She came home as high as a kite after the party.
- They laughed that he looked as high as a kite after taking the painkillers.
fly a kite
1/flˈaɪ ə kˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
to fly a toy kite for fun
To stand on the ground and hold a string while a kite goes up and moves in the wind for fun or sport.
Examples
- We used to fly a kite on the beach every summer evening.
- It’s too stormy to fly a kite safely today.
- He taught his daughter how to fly a kite in the park.
go fly a kite
1/ɡˈoʊ flˈaɪ ə kˈaɪt/
idiom
informal
rudely tell someone to go away
To tell someone to go away and stop bothering you, in a rude or playful way.
Examples
- "Go fly a kite," she snapped when he kept asking the same question.
- He told his brother to go fly a kite and slammed the door.
- If he keeps criticizing you, just tell him to go fly a kite.
send a kite
1/sˈɛnd ə kˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
slang
prison slang for send a note
(US prison slang) To send a short written note or request inside a prison, usually to staff or another prisoner.
Examples
- If you need medical help, you have to send a kite to the clinic.
- He told his cellmate to send a kite to the counselor about the problem.
- In that jail, inmates send a kite for almost everything they need.