glide

glide (glīd)

intransitive verb glid′ed, glid′·ing

to flow or move smoothly and easily, as in skating
to move by or pass gradually and almost unnoticed, as time
Aeron.
1. to fly in a glider
2. to descend with little or no engine power, using airflow to control lift
Music, Phonet. to make a glide

Etymology: ME gliden < OE glidan, akin to Ger gleiten, prob. < IE *ghlei-dh (< base *ĝhel-, to shine > glass, glow)

transitive verb

to cause to glide

noun

the act of gliding; smooth, easy flow or movement
☆ a small disk or ball, as of nylon, attached to the underside of furniture legs, etc. to allow easy sliding
Music, loosely a slur, portamento, or the like
Phonet.
1. an intermediate sound produced in the transition of the speech organs from the position for one sound to that for another
2. the nonsyllabic vowel in a diphthong

A gradual downward motion
sinking, descent, loss of altitude, downward spiral, landing operation, volplaning, slide
Antonyms plunge, debacle, crash.
A smooth motion
floating, continuous motion, smooth movement, flowing, slide, drift, swoop, wafting, skimming, flight, soaring, slither, zoom*.
Antonyms shuffle, trot, jerk.

To move downward gradually
descend, slip, decline, slide, stream, spiral, lose altitude.
To move gently
float, slide, drift, waft, skim, skip, trip, fly, coast, flit, wing, soar, coast along, drift along.
Antonyms hit, rattle, lurch.

Object

scholarship: Sergeant Roberts was awarded a gliding scholarship at 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron ( VGS ) at Watton airfield.
angle: Needs engine power at all times as glide angle with engine at idle is almost vertical.
motion: The swift gliding motion was more like the skimming of the swallow than the skating of a man.
club: The nearby gliding club offers some of finest gliding conditions in Europe.
slope: The next thing to think about is intercepting the glide slope.

Preposition: through

countryside: Fine wines and à la carte menus make a supremely pleasant way to pass the time as you glide through the countryside.

Adjective modifier

smooth: Tenpou was walking across the room toward him in a quick smooth glide of dark leather and motion.

Modifies a noun

slope: The pilot was calling on a mobile phone before the glide slope signal was acquired, and the call ceased when the aircraft crashed.
angle: The new sleek ready-to-fly 3 channel electric glider from JP features a brilliant glide angle, precise handling and gorgeous looks.

Modifying Another Word

effortlessly: Special lubricants allow blades to glide effortlessly along the skin.
gracefully: This tastes like a Red Kite gracefully gliding over the picturesque Brecon Beacons?
silently: I find myself gliding silently through the crowd which moves unconsciously aside to let me through.
serenely: Again, it can be a really special experience, hovering beneath the surface and watching your child serenely glide toward you.
smoothly: Glide smoothly across most work surfaces - no mouse pad or cleaning required.
gently: Calm the senses gently gliding along a beautiful canal in a narrow boat.

Followed by an intransitive particle

along: On another occasion, we were gliding along through the crystal clear water, some distance from shore.
through: The caverns can offer something akin to a kids play castle with chambers to explore, narrow passages to glide through.
around: See her glide around the floor, then glide around into the pub next door.

Followed by a transitive particle

down: Surely the Devil would just glide down stuff like that?

Adjective complement

past: Meanwhile watch smug parties of experienced punters glide past.

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