Plain English Meaning
Flying downward in a steady, controlled way without using engine power, letting the aircraft's forward motion come from its loss of altitude.
Full Definition
A controlled descent in an aircraft using gravity as the source of forward motion, with little or no engine power. The aircraft trades altitude for airspeed and distance, descending along a path determined by its lift-to-drag ratio and the pilot's chosen airspeed.
Context Anchor
Used in engine-out practice, landing planning, glider flying, and any discussion of how far an aircraft can travel after power is reduced or lost.
Derivation
From Old English 'glidan,' meaning to move smoothly and quietly. The original sense — moving without obvious effort or propulsion — fits the aviation meaning closely: the aircraft moves through the air without engine thrust driving it.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing how to establish and maintain a glide is essential for safely reaching a landing site after an engine failure.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane trading height for forward travel after the power is reduced.
Intuition Check
Glide does not just mean any smooth flight. In aviation, it usually means descending flight with little or no engine power.
Example Sentence 1
After the engine quit, the pilot pitched for best glide speed and turned toward the nearest airport.
Example Sentence 2
During the lesson the instructor had the student practice a glide approach with the throttle closed.