glade

noun

: an open space surrounded by woods
glady adjective

Did you know?

We know that glade has been with us since at least the early 1500s, though the word's origins remain a bit of a mystery. Glade, which originally was often used not just to indicate a clearing in the woods but one which was also filled with sunlight, may come from the adjective glad. In Middle English, glad also meant "shining," a meaning that goes back to the word's Old English ancestor, glæd. Glæd is akin to Old High German glat ("shining, smooth") and Old Norse glathr ("sunny"). It may also be a relative of Old English geolu, the ancestor of the modern English word yellow.

Examples of glade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Located about a four-hour drive from Boston, more than 1,360 skiable acres await at this Maine resort, with 176 trails and glades, 54 percent of which are perfect for beginner and intermediate skill levels. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 12 Feb. 2024 Likewise, the double-black diamond glades and chutes off of Highland’s High Temerity lift (definition: recklessly bold) is an Alpine adrenaline-seeker’s dream… although should only be undertaken by those sure in their skiing abilities. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2024 For lunch, in a green glade at the foot of red-rock cliffs, Battista and I were joined by his son, Judah. Jonathan Franzen, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023 Together, the ample snow and glades make for an experience that feels more like a day spent off-piste than one spent at a cookie-cutter resort. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Nov. 2023 The project will increase the mountain’s skiable terrain by some 20 percent, adding more than a dozen new chutes, glades, and trails for intermediate and expert skiers. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023 Just opposite the church is Manor Farm, where Hayward led us through the bucolic garden and into a deep wooded glade. Catherine Fairweather, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2023 Set in an open glade atop the peak for which it's named, LeConte Lodge puts the awe in awesome with what may be the ultimate Smokies view—commanding vistas of over 100 miles on a clear day. Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 12 July 2023 The Collared Lizard Conservation Team, as well as several other federal, state and private agencies, has focused on restoring glade habitat throughout the state to benefit many species, including northern bobwhite quail, wild turkey and several glade endemic plants, arthropods and vertebrates. Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 12 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from glad entry 1

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glade was in 1529

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Dictionary Entries Near glade

Cite this Entry

“Glade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glade

noun
: a grassy open space in a forest

More from Merriam-Webster on glade

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