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View synonyms for glide

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. 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.
  4. a calm stretch of shallow, smoothly flowing water, as in a river.
  5. an act or instance of gliding.
  6. Metallurgy. slip 1( def 49 ).
  7. 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.
  8. 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a smooth easy movement
    1. any of various dances featuring gliding steps
    2. a step in such a dance
  2. a manoeuvre in which an aircraft makes a gentle descent without engine power See also glide path
  3. the act or process of gliding
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. crystallog another name for slip 1
  7. cricket another word for glance 1
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈglidingly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • gliding·ly adverb
  • un·gliding adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of glide1

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

Origin of glide1

Old English glīdan; related to Old High German glītan
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Synonym Study

See slide.
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Example Sentences

Rogers' fellow Scarlets wing Blair Murray was defensively culpable for the first Australia try as he missed Wright with the visiting full-back gliding over.

From BBC

Attacks from missiles, drones and aerial glide bombs have killed dozens of civilians in recent weeks.

His more traditional successor, Brooke Jenkins, glided to reelection Tuesday night despite data showing that violent crime increased during her tenure.

A GOP takeover of the Senate would mean obstacles for Kamala Harris if she is elected president and a potential glide path for Donald Trump’s agenda if he wins.

Senate, creating obstacles for Vice President Kamala Harris if she is elected president and a potential glide path for former President Trump’s agenda if he wins the White House.

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More About Glide

What does glide mean?

To glide is to move smoothly along without effort, as in Ana loved the feeling of just gliding along the ice in her new ice skates.

Glide means to move along water or air with little to no effort, as a boat might do in the water.

Glide can be used figuratively to mean to proceed through life with little care or effort. People who glide through situations appear to have done nothing to get through, although they may have done something unseen or someone may have done something for them.

To glide also means to move quietly or without being noticed, as in Carlos tried to glide by the teacher on duty, but they saw him and told him to go back to class.

As a noun, glide refers to a gliding movement, as in dancing.

Example: Once you reach the top of the hill, you can just glide all the way down.

Where does glide come from?

The first records of the term glide come from before the 900s. It ultimately comes from the Old English glīdan.

One use of glide you might have heard of is in relation to the sport hang gliding, in which people hang from a large, kite-like hang glider. A glider broadly refers to an aircraft with no engine. The simplest gliders are paper airplanes, which slowly glide to their targets, but there are larger gliders, such as a space shuttle, which relies primarily on wind resistance to move and land appropriately upon re-entry into the atmosphere.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to glide?

  • glidingly (adverb)
  • ungliding (adjective)
  • glider (noun)
  • gliding (noun, verb)

What are some synonyms for glide?

What are some words that share a root or word element with glide

What are some words that often get used in discussing glide?

How is glide used in real life?

Glide is a common word that refers to moving smoothly and continuously.

Try using glide!

Is glide used correctly in the following sentence?

Harry glided through life, never having to work, because he inherited his parents” wealth.

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