Small paddle to glide (4)
I believe the answer is:
soar
'glide' is the definition.
(I know that soar is a more specific form of glide)
'small paddle' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'paddle' becomes 'oar' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'oar'='SOAR'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for soar that I've seen before include "Rise to a great height" , "Rise; sounds like painful" , "Rise high in flight" , "'Fly, glide (4)'" , "take to the air" .)