# glider

/ˈɡɫaɪdɝ/ (US) · /ɡlˈaɪdɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glider
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a light aircraft that flies without an engine. It stays in the air by using rising currents of warm air.

For teachers: a fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces and whose free flight does not depend on an engine.

## Examples

- The glider soared silently over the green valley.
- Because it has no engine, the pilot of the glider must look for rising air currents to stay aloft for long periods.
- Modern gliders are constructed from lightweight composite materials, allowing them to achieve high lift-to-drag ratios and travel hundreds of miles using only the energy of the atmosphere.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.