plural glacis
gla-ˈsēz 
ˈgla-sēz
1
a
: a gentle slope : incline
b
: a slope that runs downward from a fortification
2
: buffer state
also
: buffer zone
Examples of glacis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Forming a strong glacis in Europe’s east will require the United States to incorporate Ukraine into the U.S.-led defensive perimeter.
—
A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2023
If a large laser takes five seconds to burn through a tank’s glacis plate, a modern chemical energy gun can engage two separate targets in the same amount of time.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 19 Mar. 2020
Instead, the succeeding Jewish kingdom under Hasmonean rule cut into the glacis during construction in later years.
—National Geographic, 22 Apr. 2016
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2023
If a large laser takes five seconds to burn through a tank’s glacis plate, a modern chemical energy gun can engage two separate targets in the same amount of time.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 19 Mar. 2020
Instead, the succeeding Jewish kingdom under Hasmonean rule cut into the glacis during construction in later years.
—National Geographic, 22 Apr. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Glacis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacis. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share