/ glaɪd; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb [ v , usually + adv. / prep. ]
1.
to move smoothly and quietly, especially as though it takes no effort :
Swans went gliding past.
The skaters were gliding over the ice.
2.
( of birds or aircraft ) to fly using air currents, without the birds moving their wings or the aircraft using the engine :
An eagle was gliding high overhead.
The plane managed to glide down to the runway.
■ noun
1.
[ sing. ] a continuous smooth movement :
the graceful glide of a skater
2.
[ C ] ( phonetics ) a speech sound made while moving the tongue from one position to another
—compare diphthong
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English glīdan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch glijden and German gleiten .