Glide vs. Slide: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Glide means to move smoothly and continuously, often with ease and without much effort, while Slide refers to moving along a surface with continuous contact, often with a loss of traction or control.
Key Differences
Glide suggests a smooth, effortless motion, like a bird gliding through the air. Slide, conversely, implies a more friction-based movement, such as slipping on ice.
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Nov 30, 2023
In mechanics, glide refers to movement with minimal resistance, often in air or water. Slide is used to describe movement along a surface, often due to gravity or a slope.
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Nov 30, 2023
Glide often carries a sense of grace or ease, as in a dancer gliding across the stage. Slide, however, can suggest a lack of control, like sliding uncontrollably on a slippery road.
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Nov 30, 2023
When used metaphorically, glide implies proceeding smoothly and unhindered, as in gliding through a task. Slide, in a metaphorical sense, can mean deteriorating or declining steadily, like sliding into bad habits.
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Nov 30, 2023
In music, glide refers to a smooth transition between notes, whereas slide in music often means moving from one note to another directly along the scale.
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Nov 30, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Movement Type
Smooth, effortless, and often airborne
Along a surface, often with some loss of control
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Nov 30, 2023
Contexts
Air or water movement, graceful actions
Surface movement, loss of traction
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Nov 30, 2023
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Glide and Slide Definitions
Glide
To move without effort or resistance.
She seemed to glide through her workday effortlessly.
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Nov 30, 2023
Glide
To fly without engine power.
The glider plane glided gently down to the runway.
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Nov 30, 2023
Glide
To move in a smooth, effortless manner
A submarine gliding through the water.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Slide
To participate in a sport that involves such movement
Sliding for a medal in luge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To lose a secure footing or positioning; slip
Slid on the ice and fell.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To pass smoothly and quietly; glide
Slid past the door without anyone noticing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(Baseball) To drop down from a running into a lying or diving position when approaching a base so as to avoid being tagged out.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
To cause to move or pass smoothly, silently, or imperceptibly
Glided the key into the lock.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To become less favorable or less desirable
Economic conditions have begun to slide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
To operate or fly (an aircraft) without propulsion from wings or an engine
She glided the paraglider over the trees.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To cause to slide or slip
Slid the glass down to the other end of the counter.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To place covertly or deftly
Slid the stolen merchandise into his pocket.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
The transitional sound produced by passing from the articulatory position of one speech sound to that of another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A smooth, usually inclined surface or track for sliding
A water slide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A playground apparatus for children to slide on, typically consisting of a smooth chute climbed onto by means of a ladder.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A part that operates by sliding, as the U-shaped section of tube on a trombone that is moved to change the pitch.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
(intransitive) To fly unpowered, as of an aircraft. Also relates to gliding birds and flying fish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A period of decline or loss
"The semiconductor industry is heading for a cyclical slide" (New York Times).
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
One of a series of images projected digitally as part of a presentation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A small glass plate for mounting specimens to be examined under a microscope.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A fall of a mass of rock, earth, or snow down a slope; an avalanche or landslide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
(fencing) An attack or preparatory movement made by sliding down the opponent’s blade, keeping it in constant contact.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A slight portamento used in violin playing, passing quickly from one note to another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
A kind of cap affixed to the base of the legs of furniture to prevent it from damaging the floor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
An ornamentation consisting of two grace notes approaching the main note.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A small metal or glass tube worn over a finger or held in the hand, used in playing bottleneck-style guitar.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(ergative) To (cause to) move in continuous contact with a surface.
He slid the boat across the grass.
The safe slid slowly.
Snow slides down the side of a mountain.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
The act or manner of moving smoothly, swiftly, and without labor or obstruction.
They prey at last ensnared, he dreadful darts,With rapid glide, along the leaning line.
Seeing Orlando, it unlink'd itself,And with indented glides did slip away.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(intransitive) To move on a low-friction surface.
The car slid on the ice.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
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).
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
Movement of a glider, aëroplane, etc., through the air under gravity or its own movement.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(intransitive) To lose one’s balance on a slippery surface.
He slid while going around the corner.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
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.
The river glideth at his own sweet will.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(transitive) To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip.
To alter the meaning of a question by sliding in a word
Schoolchildren sometimes slide each other notes during class.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(transitive) To subtly direct a facial expression at (someone).
He slid me a dirty look.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
To move through the air by virtue of gravity or momentum; to volplane.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(intransitive) To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance.
A ship or boat slides through the water.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
The act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it;
His slide didn't stop until the bottom of the hill
The children lined up for a coast down the snowy slope
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To decrease in amount or value.
The stock market slid yesterday after major stocks released weak quarterly results.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(music) To smoothly pass from one note to another by bending the pitch upwards or downwards.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(regional) To ride down snowy hills upon a toboggan or similar object for recreation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(soccer) To kick so that the ball slides along the ground with little or no turning.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again.
The long, red slide was great fun for the kids.
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Oct 19, 2023
Glide
To move or transition smoothly.
His fingers glided over the piano keys.
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Nov 30, 2023
Slide
A surface of ice, snow, butter, etc. on which someone can slide for amusement or as a practical joke.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
The falling of large amounts of rubble, earth and stones down the slope of a hill or mountain; avalanche.
The slide closed the highway.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
An inclined plane on which heavy bodies slide by the force of gravity, especially one constructed on a mountainside for conveying logs by sliding them down.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
The act of sliding; smooth, even passage or progress.
A slide on the ice
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(photography) A transparent plate bearing an image to be projected to a screen.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A page of a computer presentation package such as PowerPoint.
I still need to prepare some slides for my presentation tomorrow.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(sciences) A flat, usually rectangular piece of glass or similar material on which a prepared sample may be viewed through a microscope Generally referred to as a microscope slide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A hand-held device made of smooth, hard material, used in the practice of slide guitar.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(geology) A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(music) A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(phonetics) A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(speech therapy) A voluntary stutter used as a technique to control stuttering in one's speech.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling; to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain's side.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet.
They bathe in summer, and in winter slide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water.
Ages shall slide away without perceiving.
Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To slip when walking or standing; to fall.
Their foot shall slide in due time.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence.
With good hope let he sorrow slide.
With a calm carelessness letting everything slide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To cause to slide; to thrust along; as, to slide one piece of timber along another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A plate or slip of glass on which is a picture or delineation to be exhibited by means of a magic lantern, stereopticon, or the like; a plate on which is an object to be examined with a microscope.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
The descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountain side; as, a land slide, or a snow slide; also, the track of bare rock left by a land slide.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
A small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale;
The violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
Plaything consisting of a sloping chute down which children can slide
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
The act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it;
His slide didn't stop until the bottom of the hill
The children lined up for a coast down the snowy slope
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
Move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner;
The wheels skidded against the sidewalk
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To pass or move unobtrusively or smoothly;
They slid through the wicket in the big gate
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
Move smoothly along a surface;
He slid the money over to the other gambler
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Oct 19, 2023
Slide
To move smoothly along a surface.
He slipped and slid on the icy sidewalk.
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Nov 30, 2023
Slide
To decrease or deteriorate gradually.
Sales slid over the past quarter.
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Nov 30, 2023
Slide
To pass into a specified state, situation, or position.
He slid into despair.
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Nov 30, 2023
Slide
To cause to move smoothly and quickly.
She slid the letter across the table.
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Nov 30, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can 'slide' mean a decline in performance?
Yes, 'slide' can metaphorically mean a decline or deterioration.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Does 'glide' imply effortlessness?
Yes, 'glide' often connotes ease and effortlessness.
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Nov 30, 2023
Is 'glide' always associated with air or water?
Primarily, but 'glide' can also describe smooth movements in other contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 30, 2023
Is 'glide' used in musical contexts?
Yes, 'glide' in music refers to smoothly transitioning between notes.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'slide' imply danger?
Yes, 'slide' can imply a loss of control, which might be dangerous.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'slide' refer to a playground equipment?
Yes, 'slide' is also a noun referring to playground equipment.
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Nov 30, 2023
Does 'glide' have a positive connotation?
Typically, 'glide' has a more positive, graceful connotation.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'slide' mean to slip unintentionally?
Yes, 'slide' often means slipping or moving unintentionally on a surface.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'slide' be used to describe stealthy movement?
Yes, 'slide' can describe moving stealthily or quietly.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'slide' be used in financial contexts?
Yes, 'slide' can describe a decline in financial markets.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'slide' be a gradual process?
Yes, 'slide' can describe a gradual process, like a slow decline.
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Nov 30, 2023
Is 'glide' used in aviation?
Yes, in aviation, 'glide' refers to an aircraft moving smoothly without engine power.
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Nov 30, 2023
Does 'glide' imply control?
Generally, 'glide' implies more control and grace than 'slide'.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'slide' be used in sports?
Yes, 'slide' is often used in sports, like sliding into a base in baseball.
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Nov 30, 2023
Does 'slide' always involve physical movement?
Mostly, though it can also describe transitions in states or situations.
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Nov 30, 2023
Can 'glide' be a figurative expression?
Yes, 'glide' can be used figuratively to describe smooth progress in various contexts.
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Nov 30, 2023
Is 'glide' used in dance?
Yes, 'glide' describes smooth, flowing movements in dance.
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Nov 30, 2023
Is 'slide' used in computing?
Yes, 'slide' can refer to moving elements in a user interface.
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Nov 30, 2023
Is 'glide' used in technology?
Yes, 'glide' can describe smooth, seamless processes in technology.
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Nov 30, 2023
Are 'glide' and 'slide' synonymous?
They are similar but not synonymous, as they imply different types of movement.
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Nov 30, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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