I. glə̇ˈsäd, glēˈ-, -sȧd sometimes -sād intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: French glissade, n.
1.
a. : to slide by design or with control ; specifically : to make a controlled slide in a standing or sitting position without skis, toboggans, or other similar devices down a snow-covered slope
the exhilaration of glissading down the side of a mountain
b. : to slide or slip haphazardly or without control
rock rubble glissading down from the crumbling heights — C.A.Cotton
2. : to move along smoothly and effortlessly : glide
the boat was light and buoyant, glissading gracefully over each swell in the lake
specifically : to perform a ballet glissade
• glis·sad·er -də(r) noun -s
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, social error, slip, action of glissading, landslide, gliding step in ballet, glissando, from Middle French, social error, from glisser to slip, slide (from Old French glicier, alteration of glier, from an Old Frankish verb akin to Old High German glītan to glide) + -ade — more at glide
1.
a. : the action of glissading
a long glissade to the foot of the mountain
b. : a mass of glissading material
her foot sent a tiny glissade of snow slithering down the bank — Victor Canning
c. : a slope suitable for glissading
at last discovered a good glissade
2. : a gliding step in ballet
3. : glissando