Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
tent-fly

tent-fly

6.7
A flap of fabric that opens to let people into a tent
  • noun
  • /tɛnt flaɪ/
translation icon : solapa de tienda
  • You should secure the tent-fly properly to prevent it from blowing away in the wind.

Examples

  • She peered out from behind the tent-fly to check if breakfast was ready.

  • Don't forget to secure the tent-fly before the storm!

  • Please close the tent-fly before it starts to rain.

  • The wind blew the tent-fly open in the middle of the night.

  • The tent-fly kept us dry during the rain.

  • We unzipped the tent-fly to let in the fresh morning air.

  • The tent-fly kept the rain out while we camped in the woods last weekend.

Synonyms

fly
vstent-fly
5 8.4

A piece of canvas that covers the tent entrance

is a specific compound term used for the same entrance piece
tent flap
vstent-fly
1 2.9

A piece of cloth like a door that opens and closes at a tent entrance

is the established term for that same shelter entrance opening
rainfly
vstent-fly
  • US
1 6.9

A waterproof sheet that covers a tent to keep it dry

focuses on forming an entrance opening rather than overall weather protection
fly sheet
vstent-fly
  • UK
6.8

A flap of cloth over a tent entrance that keeps out rain and insects

is the general name focusing on a movable covering for the entrance

Surface Forms

tent-fly singular
tent-flies plural

Morphology

tent-fly = tent + fly (transparent) = tent + fly

A straightforward compound of 'tent' + 'fly' where 'fly' denotes a cloth flap, so the meaning is directly predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Tent-fly names the flap that covers the entrance of a tent. The fly part suggests a piece of cloth that 'flaps' or 'flies' in the wind, like when a cloth 'flies open', so it helps you remember it is a cover or flap for the tent.