roller skate

¹

noun

1. a form of skate with four wheels or rollers instead of a runner, for use on a sidewalk or other surface offering traction.

roller-skate

²

Or roll·er·skate

[roh-ler-skeyt]

verb (used without object)

roller-skated, roller-skating 

1. to glide about by means of roller skates.

roller skate

noun

1. a boot or shoe with four small wheels attached that enable the wearer to glide swiftly over a floor or other surface

2. a device having clamps or straps for attaching such wheels to a boot or shoe

verb

1. (intr) to move on roller skates

Other Word Forms

• roller skater noun
• rollerskater noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of roller skate¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Origin of roller skate²

First recorded in 1870–75; v. use of roller skate

Example Sentences

Everyone would descend with matching jackets and go roller skating.

From Los Angeles Times

Videos and photos posted by people who attended showed servers on roller skates and the humanoid robot dubbed Optimus scooping popcorn.

From Los Angeles Times

In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, hiking, roller skating and thrifting.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s just something within our culture of Black natives, especially pre-Internet, simpler times, when roller skating was such a thing.

From Los Angeles Times

At the O2, that pain seemed a distant memory, as he careened around the U-shaped stage on roller skates, pulling off a flawless moonwalk, and even freeze-framing in a handstand.

From BBC