gla|cial /gle I ʃ ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Glacial means relating to or produced by glaciers or ice. [TECHNICAL ] □ …a true glacial landscape with U-shaped valleys.
2 ADJ If you say that a person, action, or atmosphere is glacial , you mean that they are very unfriendly or hostile. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Inside the jeep the atmosphere was glacial.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that something moves or changes at a glacial pace, you are emphasizing that it moves or changes very slowly. [EMPHASIS ]
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone, usually a woman, as glacial , you mean they are very beautiful and elegant, but do not show their feelings. □ Her glacial beauty is magnetic.
gla|cia|tion /gle I sie I ʃ ə n/ (glaciations ) N‑VAR In geology, glaciation is the process by which the land is covered by glaciers. Glaciations are periods when this happens. [TECHNICAL ]
glaci|er /glæ siə r , [AM ] gle I ʃə r / (glaciers ) N‑COUNT A glacier is an extremely large mass of ice which moves very slowly, often down a mountain valley.
glad ◆◇◇ /glæ d/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , oft ADJ that, ADJ to-inf] If you are glad about something, you are happy and pleased about it. □ I'm glad I relented in the end. □ The people seem genuinely glad to see you. □ [+ about ] I ought to be glad about what happened. □ I'd be glad if the boys slept a little longer so I could do some ironing. [Also + of ] ● glad|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Mallarmé gladly accepted the invitation. ● glad|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …a night of joy and gladness.
2 ADJ If you say that you will be glad to do something, usually for someone else, you mean that you are willing and eager to do it. [FEELINGS ] □ I'll be glad to show you everything. □ We should be glad to answer any questions. ● glad|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The counselors will gladly baby-sit during their free time.
glad|den /glæ d ə n/ (gladdens , gladdening , gladdened )
1 PHRASE If you say that something gladdens someone's heart , you mean that it makes them feel pleased and hopeful. [WRITTEN ] □ …a conclusion that should gladden the hearts of all animal-rights activists.
2 VERB If something gladdens you, it makes you feel happy and pleased. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] Charles's visit surprised him and gladdened him.
glade /gle I d/ (glades ) N‑COUNT A glade is a grassy space without trees in a wood or forest. [LITERARY ]
gladia|tor /glæ die I tə r / (gladiators )
1 N‑COUNT In the time of the Roman Empire, a gladiator was a man who had to fight against other men or wild animals in order to entertain an audience.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a sports player or a performer as a gladiator in order to emphasize how brave or dangerous their actions are. [JOURNALISM , EMPHASIS ] □ As the gladiators rolled away from the starting gates, a gasp went up when the Scottish cyclist's left foot clicked out of the pedal.
gladio|lus /glæ dioʊ ləs/ (gladioli ) N‑COUNT A gladiolus is a type of plant with long thin leaves and several large brightly coloured flowers.
gla d rags N‑PLURAL You can refer to clothes that you wear to parties and other special occasions as your glad rags . [INFORMAL ]
glam /glæ m/ ADJ Glam is short for glamorous. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ She was always glam. She looked like a star.
glam|or /glæ mə r / → see glamour
glam|or|ize /glæ məra I z/ (glamorizes , glamorizing , glamorized ) in BRIT, also use glamorise VERB If someone glamorizes something, they make it look or seem more attractive than it really is, especially in a film, book, or programme. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Filmmakers have often been accused of glamorizing organized crime. □ [V -ed] …a glamorised view of the past.
glam|or|ous /glæ mərəs/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as glamorous , you mean that they are more attractive, exciting, or interesting than ordinary people or things. □ …some of the world's most beautiful and glamorous women. □ The south coast is less glamorous but full of clean and attractive hotels.
glam|our /glæ mə r / in AM, also use glamor N‑UNCOUNT Glamour is the quality of being more attractive, exciting, or interesting than ordinary people or things. □ [+ of ] …the glamour of show biz.
glance ◆◇◇ /glɑː ns, glæ ns/ (glances , glancing , glanced )
1 VERB If you glance at something or someone, you look at them very quickly and then look away again immediately. □ [V prep/adv] He glanced at his watch. □ [V prep/adv] I glanced back.
2 VERB If you glance through or at a newspaper, report, or book, you spend a short time looking at it without reading it very carefully. □ [V + through ] I picked up the phone book and glanced through it. □ [V + at ] I never even glanced at the political page of a daily paper.
3 N‑COUNT A glance is a quick look at someone or something. □ Trevor and I exchanged a glance.
4 PHRASE If you see something at a glance , you see or recognize it immediately, and without having to think or look carefully. □ One could tell at a glance that she was a compassionate person.
5 PHRASE If you say that something is true or seems to be true at first glance , you mean that it seems to be true when you first see it or think about it, but that your first impression may be wrong. □ At first glance, organic farming looks much more expensive for the farmer.