glide

[ glahyd ]

verb (used without object)

, glid·ed, glid·ing.

1. to move smoothly and continuously along, as if without effort or resistance, as a flying bird, a boat, or a skater.

   Synonyms: flow

   Antonyms: stick

2. to pass by gradual or unobservable change (often followed by along, away, by, etc.).
3. to move quietly or stealthily or without being noticed (usually followed by in, out, along, etc.).
4. Aeronautics.
   1. to move in the air, especially at an easy angle downward, with less engine power than for level flight, solely by the action of air currents and gravity, or by momentum already acquired.
   2. to fly in a glider.
5. Music. to pass from one note to another without a break.

verb (used with object)

, glid·ed, glid·ing.

1. to cause to glide.

noun

1. a gliding movement, as in dancing.
2. a dance marked by such movements.
3. Music. slur ( def 10a ).
4. Phonetics.
   1. a speech sound having the characteristics of both a consonant and a vowel, especially w in wore and y in your, and, in some analyses, r in road and l in load; semivowel.
   2. a transitional sound heard during the articulation linking two phonemically contiguous sounds, as the y- sound often heard between the i and e of quiet.
5. a calm stretch of shallow, smoothly flowing water, as in a river.
6. an act or instance of gliding.
7. Metallurgy. slip ¹( def 49 ).
8. a smooth metal plate, as on the bottom of the feet of a chair or table, to facilitate moving and to prevent scarring of floor surfaces.
9. a metal track in which a drawer, shelf, etc., moves in or out.

glide

/ ɡlaɪd /

verb

1. to move or cause to move easily without jerks or hesitations

   to glide in a boat down the river

2. intr to pass slowly or without perceptible change

   to glide into sleep

3. to cause (an aircraft) to come into land without engine power, or (of an aircraft) to land in this way
4. intr to fly a glider
5. intr music to execute a portamento from one note to another
6. intr phonetics to produce a glide

noun

1. a smooth easy movement
2. 1. any of various dances featuring gliding steps
   2. a step in such a dance
3. a manoeuvre in which an aircraft makes a gentle descent without engine power See also glide path
4. the act or process of gliding
5. music
   1. a long portion of tubing slipped in and out of a trombone to increase its length for the production of lower harmonic series See also valve
   2. a portamento or slur
6. phonetics
   1. a transitional sound as the speech organs pass from the articulatory position of one speech sound to that of the next, as the ( w ) sound in some pronunciations of the word doing
   2. another word for semivowel
7. crystallog another name for slip 1
8. cricket another word for glance 1

Derived Forms

• ˈglidingly, adverb

Other Words From

• gliding·ly adverb
• un·gliding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glide¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English gliden (verb), Old English glīdan; cognate with German gleiten

Word History and Origins

Origin of glide¹

Old English glīdan; related to Old High German glītan

Synonym Study

See slide.

Example Sentences

Angelina Jolie was able to seemingly glide into the Vatican on Thursday to present her new film ‘Unbroken.’

From The Daily Beast

With the South Carolina GOP primary behind him, Sen. Lindsey Graham appears to be on a glide path to re-election.

From The Daily Beast

He started to glide the window back up to get out of the car, and at once the officer began to beat his gun butt on the window.

From The Daily Beast

I describe the pink hued iridescent bubbles in the bathtub, and the way they glide away from my skin as if it's made of silk.

From The Daily Beast

McAuliffe had been given a glide path to the nomination and had the active support of almost every Democratic elected official.

From The Daily Beast

Immediately the door was opened just enough to let the two men glide in; then it was shut with a bang and bolted.

From Project Gutenberg

They glide across my face with tender, soft caress, and I feel something melt within me.

From Project Gutenberg

Fortunately, childhood is protected by a resisting candour, by an enamel over which all impurities glide.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he stooped down and begun to glide along the wall, just his shoulders showing over the people's heads.

From Project Gutenberg

He noted that Sssuri had stepped up the pace, passing into his sure-footed glide which made Dalgard exert himself to keep up.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• descend
• drift
• flit
• float
• fly
• sail
• skate
• skim
• skip
• slide
• slip
• slither
• soar
• spiral
• waft