glide

¹glide

verb \ˈglīd\

glid·edglid·ing

Definition of GLIDE

intransitive verb

1

: to move smoothly, continuously, and effortlessly <swans gliding over the lake>

2

: to go or pass imperceptibly <hours glided by>

3

a of an airplane : to descend gradually in controlled flight

b : to fly in a glider

4

: to produce a glide (as in music or speech)

transitive verb

: to cause to glide

Examples of GLIDE

1. The swans glided over the surface of the lake.
2. We watched the skiers glide down the slope.
3. The pilot glided to a safe landing after the engine failed.
4. The pilot glided the plane to a safe landing.

Origin of GLIDE

Middle English, from Old English glīdan; akin to Old High German glītan to glide

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GLIDE

Synonyms

bowl, breeze, brush, coast, cruise, drift, flow, roll, sail, skim, slide, slip, stream, sweep, whisk

Antonyms

flounder, struggle

Related Words

fly, race, rush, speed

Near Antonyms

limp, lumber, plod, stumble, trudge; shamble, shuffle; stamp, stomp, stump, tramp; labor, toil

Rhymes with GLIDE

bide, bride, chide, eyed, fried, guide, hide, pied, pride, ride, side, slide, snide, stride, thighed, tide, tried, wide

²glide

noun

Definition of GLIDE

1

: a calm stretch of shallow water flowing smoothly

2

: the act or action of gliding

3

: portamento

4

a : a less prominent vowel sound produced by the passing of the vocal organs to or from the articulatory position of a speech sound — compare diphthong

b : semivowel

5

: a device for facilitating movement of something; especially : a circular usually metal button attached to the bottom of furniture legs to provide a smooth surface

First Known Use of GLIDE

1584