gliding
Smooth, effortless motion
Gliding is smooth, effortless movement without apparent propulsion—a bird gliding on air currents, a skater gliding across ice, a boat gliding through still water.
The word suggests grace and quiet: She glided into the room.
Gliding also names the sport of flying unpowered aircraft (gliders or sailplanes), riding thermal updrafts to stay aloft.
Elegant in movement
- fluidSubstance that flows
- seamlessWithout visible joins
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- effortlessRequiring no strain
flowing · sweeping · drifting · floating · skating · sliding · coasting · skimming
One who steers aircraft
- thermalsWarm air columns
- updraftUpward air movement
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
wing · aerodynamics · lift · sailplane · ridge lift · variometer · airfoil · cross-country
Long-winged oceanic bird
- eagleLarge predatory bird
- condorGiant New World vulture
- hawkTaloned predatory bird
- owlNocturnal feathered predator
swan · gull · flying squirrel · flying fish · wingspan · silent flight · aerial · migration
Venue for formal dances
- waltzDance in three-quarter time
- foxtrotSmooth partner dance
- quickstepFast-paced ballroom dance
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
partner · frame · posture · rise · fall · sway · footwork · traveling
Large graceful waterbird
- duckWaterbird that quacks
- waterfowlSwimming birds collectively
- paddlingStroking water with blades
- pondSmall still body
lake · ripple · wake · serene · drift · current · stream · waterbird
Recreational freefall from aircraft
- wingsuitWearable gliding apparatus
- tandemSequential two-person arrangement
- launch siteRocket departure facility
- cross-countryTraversing wide natural terrain
graceful
Elegant in movement
effortless · flowing · sweeping · drifting · floating · skating · sliding · coasting · skimming · slipping
pilot
One who steers aircraft
altitude · wing · aerodynamics · lift · sailplane · ridge lift · variometer · airfoil · cross-country · landing
albatross
Long-winged oceanic bird
owl · swan · gull · flying squirrel · flying fish · wingspan · silent flight · aerial · migration · swooping
ballroom
Venue for formal dances
smooth · partner · frame · posture · rise · fall · sway · footwork · traveling · floor
swan
Large graceful waterbird
pond · lake · ripple · wake · serene · drift · current · stream · waterbird · surface
skydiving
Recreational freefall from aircraft
- wingsuitWearable gliding apparatus
- tandemSequential two-person arrangement
- launch siteRocket departure facility
- skatingskating, ice skating, roller skating, figure skating, inline skating
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- lake scenerowboat, canoe, kayak, dock, pier
- graceful thingsballet, figure skating, dance, swan, gazelle
- gradual motioncrawling, creeping, inching, drifting, sliding
- free flowfluidity, spontaneity, continuous motion, natural rhythm, stream of consciousness
glidingpowered flight
Aircraft movement via engines
motoring · propelling · flapping · thrusting · driving
- hang glidingUnpowered flight via portable wing
- gliding motion