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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• figure skater
  noun

Etymology

Origin of figure skating

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

figure skating

Kim Cattrall, who played Panettiere’s mother and figure skating coach in “Ice Princess,” said Panettiere was “gone far too soon” and shared a photo of the two from the Disney film.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

At the curling we had the moonwalking technician 'pebbling' the ice while at the figure skating, we saw the incredible skill of the on-ice camera operator.

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026

Ilia Malinin highlighted mental health struggles during an emotional performance at the Olympic figure skating gala on Saturday as men's gold medallist Mikhail Shaidorov got the crowd going to 'Kung Fu Panda'.

From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026

U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu smiled through a monster free program, clinching the figure skating gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Milan on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026

I suppose you'll give up this automobile business now, and go back and do some fancy figure skating on Broadway.

From John Marsh's Millions by Arthur Hornblow