v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fled p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeing. ] [ OE. fleon, fleen, AS. fleón (imperf. fleáh); akin to D. vlieden, OHG. & OS. fliohan, G. fliehen, Icel. fl&ymacr_;ja (imperf. fl&ymacr_;ði), Dan. flye, Sw. fly (imperf. flydde), Goth. þliuhan. √84. Cf. Flight. ] To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; -- usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Flee fornication. 1 Cor. vi. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

So fled his enemies my warlike father. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. “Whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?” Shak. See Fly, v. i., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. flees, AS. fleós; akin to D. flies, vlies. ] 1. The entire coat of wool that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who shore me
Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Manuf.) The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fleece wool, wool shorn from the sheep. --
Golden fleece. See under Golden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fleeced p. pr. & vb. n. Fleecing. ] 1. To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were finely fleeced. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To spread over as with wool. [ R. ] Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Furnished with a fleece; as, a sheep is well fleeced. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Stripped of a fleece; plundered; robbed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a fleece. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who fleeces or strips unjustly, especially by trickery or fraund. Prynne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece. “Fleecy flocks.” Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. Obs. pl. of Flea. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A word or look of derision or mockery. [ 1913 Webster ]

And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorn. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A grin of civility; a leer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A sly, treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mock; to flout at. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]