glider: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral; technical in aviation context.
Quick answer
What does “glider” mean?
A light aircraft that flies without an engine, using air currents to stay aloft.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A light aircraft that flies without an engine, using air currents to stay aloft.
A person or thing that glides; a swinging seat suspended from a frame (in American English); a smooth, sliding movement in dance or sports.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'glider' overwhelmingly refers to the aircraft. In the US, it also commonly refers to a garden/porch swing seat (a 'glider rocker') and sometimes to a type of infant stroller with smooth gliding motion. The aircraft meaning is shared.
Connotations
UK: Aeronautics, sport, quiet flight. US: Can evoke leisure (porch glider), childhood (baby glider), or sport (aircraft).
Frequency
More frequent in UK English due to the narrower, highly specific meaning. In US English, frequency is split between aviation and domestic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “glider” in a Sentence
The glider soared [PREP over the hills].He piloted the glider [PREP into the thermal].They built a glider [PREP out of lightweight materials].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glider” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pilot will glider the aircraft into the narrow valley.
adjective
British English
- He joined the university glider club.
American English
- We relaxed on the glider chair all evening.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in tourism ('glider tours') or manufacturing.
Academic
Used in physics (aerodynamics), engineering (design), and biology (e.g., 'sugar glider' marsupial).
Everyday
Primarily refers to the aircraft or the swing. 'We spent the afternoon on the porch glider.' (US) / 'He's taking glider lessons.'
Technical
Precise term for a fixed-wing aircraft designed for sustained unpowered flight, relying on lift from thermals or ridge lift.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glider”
- Using 'glider' to mean any small airplane (it must be specifically engine-less).
- Misspelling as 'glider' (correct) vs. 'glidder' (incorrect).
- In UK contexts, assuming it refers to a swing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are unpowered aircraft, a 'glider' (or sailplane) is a fixed-wing aircraft with a cockpit. A 'hang glider' is a lighter, more basic aircraft where the pilot is suspended in a harness below a fabric wing.
Rarely and not in standard use. The verb is 'to glide'. Using 'glider' as a verb is non-standard or jargonistic.
The US usage includes a common domestic meaning: a type of swinging bench or rocking chair, often found on porches. This meaning is virtually absent in UK English.
Common methods include aerotow (being towed by a powered aircraft), winch launch (a ground-based winch rapidly reels in a cable), or from a slope in hilly terrain.
A light aircraft that flies without an engine, using air currents to stay aloft.
Glider is usually neutral; technical in aviation context. in register.
Glider: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡlaɪdə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡlaɪdər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As silent as a glider.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A GLIDER glides. It needs a wide, GLIDing path to stay in the air.
Conceptual Metaphor
SMOOTH PROGRESS IS GLIDING ('The project glided through approval.'); EFFORTLESS MOVEMENT IS GLIDING ('She glided across the dance floor.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context would a North American speaker MOST LIKELY use the word 'glider' differently from a British speaker?