figure skating

American  

noun

1. ice skating in which the skater traces intricate patterns on the ice.

2. a type of ice skating developed from this, emphasizing jumps, spins, and other movements that combine athletic skills and dance techniques.

3. a competitive sport in which the skater is required to execute school figures and to perform one or more original programs of difficult jumps, spins, etc., to a musical setting.

---

figure skating British  

noun

1. ice skating in which the skater traces outlines of selected patterns

2. the whole art of skating, as distinct from skating at speed

---

Other Word Forms

• figure skater noun

Etymology

Origin of figure skating

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Eisenbeisser would play 12 more years of professional soccer and compete in figure skating in the 1936 Winter Olympics, where he finished 13th in the pairs competition.

From Los Angeles Times

French skater Adam Siao Him Fa took the lead at the Finlandia Trophy, the final stop on the ISU figure skating Grand Prix circuit, after Friday's opening short programme in Helsinki.

From Barron's

The pair have won seven British championships and clinched Great Britain's first figure skating World Championship medal in more than 40 years with ice dance bronze in Boston this year.

From BBC

The reigning Olympic champion has not skated competitively since Feb. 10, 2022, when Chen landed five clean quadruple jumps to become the seventh U.S. man to win a figure skating singles gold medal.

From Los Angeles Times

For years, I’d eaten one after almost every figure skating practice, usually sitting in the front seat of the car still sweating through a fleece pullover.

From Salon