Gliders

/ˈɡlaɪdɚz/ noun

Definition

aircraft that fly without engines by using air currents and gravity; or people or animals that glide; or a type of furniture that rocks gently back and forth.

Etymology

From Old English 'glidan' meaning 'to slide or slip.' The '-er' suffix means 'one who does' the action. Became specialized for engineless aircraft and furniture.

Kelly Says

Glider pilots use invisible columns of rising air called 'thermals' to stay aloft for hours without engines—they're basically reading the invisible architecture of the sky like sailors read water currents.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.