glenn

IPA/ɡlˈɛn/
KK[ɡlˈɛn]IPA/ɡlˈɛn/

glenn — noun

1. John Glenn (1921–2016), the American astronaut who, in 1962, became the first pe

1.nounB2
Definition

John Glenn (1921–2016), the American astronaut who, in 1962, became the first person from the United States to travel around the Earth in space; he later served as a U.S. Senator for the state of Ohio for twenty-four years.

Example

In 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth aboard Friendship 7.

first American to orbit the Earth; Friendship 7 spacecraft

After NASA, John Glenn was elected to the U.S. Senate from Ohio in 1974.

transition from astronaut to politician; elected to U.S. Senate

Common collocations
  • John Glenn
  • Senator Glenn
  • astronaut Glenn
  • Glenn orbited
  • Glenn served

Grammar Patterns

the + surname John Glenn

surname Glenn when referring to the person John Glenn

Usage Note

When referring to this specific person, the name can be used either with a title (Senator Glenn, John Glenn) or alone (Glenn) in contexts where the referent is already clear. It is not a common noun and is not used to describe astronauts in general.

Common Mistakes

Neil Armstrong was the first Glenn to walk on the Moon.
Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to walk on the Moon.
Glenn is a surname attached to a specific person, not a general term for astronauts.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

John Glenn is one of several famous early U.S. astronauts. While Neil Armstrong is remembered as the first person to walk on the Moon (1969), Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth (1962). Alan Shepard had made a shorter suborbital flight earlier in 1961, but Glenn's mission was the first to circle the planet multiple times. Buzz Aldrin, like Armstrong, walked on the Moon during Apollo 11. Among these figures, Glenn is unique in also having a long political career — he served as a U.S. Senator for 24 years, while the others stayed primarily in military or public-speaking roles.

ArmstrongAldrinShepard

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • first American in orbit
  • Glenn's mission
  • Senator from Ohio
  • Glenn returned to space

Etymology

GaelicScottishEnglish

The surname Glenn comes from a Scottish and Irish Gaelic word 'gleann', meaning a narrow valley. John Glenn (1921–2016) is by far the most famous bearer of this name in modern American history, though the name itself is common as a given name and surname in English-speaking countries.