Sway vs. Glide — What's the Difference?

To swing back and forth or to and fro.

To move in a smooth, effortless manner

To incline or bend to one side; veer

To move silently and furtively

To incline toward change, as in opinion or feeling

To occur or pass imperceptibly

To fluctuate, as in outlook.

To fly without propulsion from wings or an engine.

To cause to swing back and forth or to and fro

(Music) To blend one tone into the next; slur.

To cause to incline or bend

(Linguistics) To articulate a glide in speech.

To exert influence or control over

To cause to move or pass smoothly, silently, or imperceptibly

(Nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.

To operate or fly (an aircraft) without propulsion from wings or an engine

To rule or govern.

The act of gliding.

To wield, as a weapon or scepter.

(Music) A slur.

The act of moving from side to side with a swinging motion.

The transitional sound produced by passing from the articulatory position of one speech sound to that of another.

Influence or control

See semivowel.

The act of swaying; a swaying motion; a swing or sweep of a weapon.

(intransitive) To move softly, smoothly, or effortlessly.

A rocking or swinging motion.

(intransitive) To fly unpowered, as of an aircraft. Also relates to gliding birds and flying fish.

Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side

(transitive) To cause to glide.

Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

(phonetics) To pass with a glide, as the voice.

Rule; dominion; control; power.

The act of gliding.

A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.

(phonology) A transitional sound, especially a semivowel.

The maximum amplitude of a vehicle's lateral motion.

(fencing) An attack or preparatory movement made by sliding down the opponent’s blade, keeping it in constant contact.

To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward; to rock.

A bird, the glede or kite.

To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield.

A kind of cap affixed to the base of the legs of furniture to prevent it from damaging the floor.

To influence or direct by power, authority, persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide. Compare persuade.

The joining of two sounds without a break.

To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp.

A smooth and sliding step in dancing the waltz.

(nautical) To hoist (a mast or yard) into position.

The glede or kite.

To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.

The act or manner of moving smoothly, swiftly, and without labor or obstruction.

To have weight or influence.

A transitional sound in speech which is produced by the changing of the mouth organs from one definite position to another, and with gradual change in the most frequent cases; as in passing from the begining to the end of a regular diphthong, or from vowel to consonant or consonant to vowel in a syllable, or from one component to the other of a double or diphthongal consonant (see Guide to Pronunciation, 19, 161, 162). Also (by Bell and others), the vanish (or brief final element) or the brief initial element, in a class of diphthongal vowels, or the brief final or initial part of some consonants (see Guide to Pronunciation, 18, 97, 191).

To bear sway; to rule; to govern.

Movement of a glider, aëroplane, etc., through the air under gravity or its own movement.

To move or wield with the hand; to swing; to wield; as, to sway the scepter.

To move gently and smoothly; to pass along without noise, violence, or apparent effort; to pass rapidly and easily, or with a smooth, silent motion, as a river in its channel, a bird in the air, a skater over ice.

To influence or direct by power and authority; by persuasion, or by moral force; to rule; to govern; to guide.

To pass with a glide, as the voice.

To cause to incline or swing to one side, or backward and forward; to bias; to turn; to bend; warp; as, reeds swayed by wind; judgment swayed by passion.

To move through the air by virtue of gravity or momentum; to volplane.

To hoist; as, to sway up the yards.

A vowel-like sound that serves as a consonant

To be drawn to one side by weight or influence; to lean; to incline.

The act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it;

To move or swing from side to side; or backward and forward.

The activity of flying a glider

To have weight or influence.

Move smoothly and effortlessly

To bear sway; to rule; to govern.

Fly in or as if in a glider plane

The act of swaying; a swaying motion; the swing or sweep of a weapon.

Cause to move or pass silently, smoothly, or imperceptibly

Influence, weight, or authority that inclines to one side; as, the sway of desires.

Preponderance; turn or cast of balance.

Rule; dominion; control.

A switch or rod used by thatchers to bind their work.

Controlling influence

Pitching dangerously to one side

Move back and forth or sideways;

Move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner;

Win approval or support for;

Cause to move back and forth;