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

The metal tip applicator glided on smoothly, making application easy while providing a cooling sensation that helped reduce puffiness. —L.a. Hubilla, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Find it on Amazon Handmade Kent 9T Graphite Hair Comb for Gentle Untangling Handmade from cellulose acetate, this saw-cut comb gently glides through short, long, straight, curly, fine, and coarse hair to tenderly undo tangles and remove knots. —Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024

Noun

Kharkiv city and the region surrounding it have been pummelled by persistent Russian strikes using highly destructive glide bombs, and Moscow launched a cross-border offensive into Kharkiv back in May this year. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024

When using a gua sha tool, Palacios says to use a light facial oil to give the tool some glide. —Jenny Berg, Allure, 26 Nov. 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