luge

American  

[loozh] / luʒ /

noun

1. a one- or two-person sled for coasting or racing down a chute, used especially in Europe.

---

verb (used without object)

luged, luging

1. to go or race on a luge.

   to luge at nearly 70 miles per hour.

luge British  

/ luːʒ /

noun

1. a racing toboggan on which riders lie on their backs, descending feet first

---

verb

1. (intr) to ride on a luge

Usage

What does luge mean? Luge is a sport in which racers ride a sled (also called a luge) feetfirst down an ice-covered chute with the goal of reaching the finish line as quickly as possible.The sport is sometimes also called luge sledding. Luge is an event in the Winter Olympics. It has traditionally featured solo racers, but there are also doubles luge events, in which two racers ride on the same sled, and relay events.Luge is known as one of the sliding sports, along with skeleton and bobsleigh (also called bobsled), which take place on a similar course. In luge, racers ride on their backs, in contrast with skeleton, in which racers lie on their stomachs.Luge is known for its high speeds, often exceeding 80 mph (129 km/h).Luging is also sometimes done on natural courses.Example: Luge is one of my favorite winter sports to watch because each run lasts only minutes.

Other Word Forms

• luger noun

Etymology

Origin of luge

Borrowed into English from dialectal French around 1900–05

Example Sentences

The Winter Olympic Federations collectively represents the governing bodies of biathlon, bobsleigh and skeleton, ice hockey, luge, skating, ski and snowboard and curling.

From BBC

The sleepy socialist town built new alpine and Nordic ski trails, ski jumps, bobsled and luge runs, a skating rink, dozens of apartment blocks and numerous hotels.

From Seattle Times

Still, the event company doesn’t want to water down a cool cocktail: It’s bringing in ice luges for the crystal-and-ice bash.

From Seattle Times

The World Cup luge circuit is in Lake Placid this weekend for the first time since 2009.

From Washington Times

Stockholm’s bid should again use Are, a ski resort more than 300 miles to the north, and the bobsled, luge and skeleton track across the Baltic Sea in Latvia.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• bobsled