glide

1 of 2

verb

ˈglīd 

glided; gliding

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

glide

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms

Verb

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

Examples of glide in a Sentence

Verb

The swans glided over the surface of the lake.

We watched the skiers glide down the slope.

The pilot glided to a safe landing after the engine failed.

The pilot glided the plane to a safe landing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Like the British Royal Family, the former first lady prefers to never complain, never explain, and instead glide imposingly through crisis, a swan in a swamp. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2024

All your lucky giftee needs to do is apply the leave-on gel primer (that comes with the Starter Kit) onto clean skin and apply gentle pressure while gliding the device over their face in upward and outward motions. —Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 7 Oct. 2024

Noun

As Zaporizhzhia adjusts to the new phenomenon of glide bomb attacks, for the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Moscow’s Sept. 24 barrage of 8 glide bombs, which killed 5 people and injured 36 others, was woefully familiar. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024

The weapons include an additional Patriot missile defense battery and a new shipment of glide bombs that can be deployed from Western fighter jets, increasing their strike range. —Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing glide

• glide path
• glide slope

Kids Definition

glide

verb

ˈglīd

glided; gliding

1

: to move smoothly, silently, and effortlessly

2

: to descend gradually without enough engine power for level flight

glide in an airplane

glide noun