svæve

Svæve is a Danish verb meaning to float, hover, or glide with little or no propulsion. It is used for both moving through air and moving through water, and it can also be used metaphorically to describe suspended or light movement. Etymology traces the word to Old Norse svífa, meaning to drift or float, and it is cognate with the Swedish sväva and the Norwegian svæve.

In aviation, svæve refers to gliding flight, where an aircraft generates lift with its wings and travels forward while losing altitude gradually, without engine power. The term commonly appears in the compound svævefly, meaning a glider, and svæveflyvning, denoting glider flying. Gliders rely on rising air currents or terrain features to maintain altitude and extend range, distinguishing svæve from powered flight.

In nature, svæve can describe seeds, leaves, insects, or other light objects that drift or hover in the air, aided by aerodynamic or buoyant structures. The concept can also be used more loosely for objects or beings that appear to move gently and without visible propulsion.

Metaphorically, svæve is used to convey a sense of suspension or lightness. Phrases such as svæve i et øjeblik express a moment of hovering or brief suspension, while svæve gennem tankerne describes drifting or wandering thoughts.

See also: svævefly, gliding flight, buoyancy, aerodynamics.