How do you use the word "kite" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "kite": Tom attached the string to the kite. Flying a kite can be dangerous.

Kite Meaning

/kaɪt/

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA bird of prey of the family Accipitridae.

nounA bird of prey of the family Accipitridae., Any bird of the subfamily Milvinae, with long wings and weak legs, feeding mostly on carrion and spending long periods soaring; specifically, the red kite (Milvus milvus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans).

Sentence Examples

Tom attached the string to the kite.

Flying a kite can be dangerous.

There is a kite flying above the tree.

CEFR Practice Quiz

The children ran across the field to fly their ____ in the strong wind.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The children were flying a large colorful ____ in the park while the wind was blowing strongly today.

Word Origin & History

The noun is from Middle English kyte, kīte, kete (“a kite endemic to Europe, especially the red kite (Milvus milvus)”), from Old English cȳta (“kite; bittern”), from Proto-West Germanic *kūtijō, diminutive of Proto-West Germanic *kūt (“bird of prey”), from Proto-Indo-European *gewH-d- (“to cry, screech”). The English word is cognate with Scots kyt, kyte (“kite; bird of prey”), Middle High German kiuzelīn, kützlīn (“owling”) (modern German Kauz (“owl”)). Possibly a doublet of coot. Sense 3 (“lightweight toy”) is from the fact that it hovers in the air like the bird. The verb is derived from the noun.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"And yet the ſillie kight, well weyde in each degree, May ſerue ſometimes (as in his kinde) for mans commoditie. The kight can weede the worme from corne and coſtly ſeedes, The kight cã kill the mowldiwarpe, in pleaſant meads yͭ breeds: Out of the ſtately ſtreetes the kight can clenſe the filth, As mẽ can clẽſe the worthleſſe weedes frõ fruteful fallow tilth; […]" — 1575, George Gascoigne, “Councell to Duglasse Diue Written vpon This Occasion. …”, in The Posies of George Gascoigne Esquire. […], printed at London: For Richard Smith, […], →OCLC; republished in William Carew Hazlitt, compiler, The Complete Poems of George Gascoigne […] In Two Volumes, volume I, [London]: Printed for the Roxburghe Library, 1869, →OCLC, page 370:

"Monſieur de Sanſſac was appointed to attend vpon him [Francis I of France] with all ſorts of Haukes, wherein the ſaide Emperour ſemed to take great delight, eſpecially with flying at the Kight, which the French call Voler le Milan, […]" — 1600, Thomas Danett, chapter 13, in A Continuation of the Historie of France, from the Death of Charles the Eight where Comines [i.e., Philippe de Commines] Endeth, till the Death of Henry the Second, London: Printed by Thomas East for Thomas Charde, →OCLC, page 91:

"Kites flying aloft, ſhew Faire and Drie Weather. […] the Kite affecteth not ſo much the Groſſneſſe of the Aire, as the Cold and Freſhneſſe thereof; For being a Bird of Prey, and therefore Hot, ſhee delighteth in the Fresh Aire; And (many times) flyeth againſt the Wind, […]" — 1631, Francis [Bacon], “IX. Century. [Experiments in Consort, Touching Perception in Bodies Insensible, Tending to Natural Diuination, or Subtill Trialls.]”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 824, page 208:

"I hope, that vile Carcaſs will firſt become a Prey to Kites and Worms." — 1704, [Jonathan Swift], “A Full and True Account of the Battel Fought Last Friday, between the Antient and the Modern Books in St. James’s Library”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], published 1705, →OCLC, page 270:

"The milvus, or kite, is a native of Europe, Asia, and Africa. […] Its motion in the air distinguishes it from all other birds, being so smooth and even that it is scarcely perceptible." — 1816, G[eorge] Gregory, [Jeremiah Joyce], “FALCO”, in A Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. … In Three Volumes. […], 1st American edition, volume II, Philadelphia, Pa.: Published by Isaac Peirce, […], sold also by Coale and Maxwell, […], and James F. Shores, […]; Dennis Heartt, printer, →OCLC:

Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words