skate

¹

[skeyt]

noun

1. ice skate.

2. roller skate.

3. the blade of an ice skate.

4. a skid on a lifeboat to facilitate launching from a listing ship.

verb (used without object)

skated, skating 

1. to glide or propel oneself over ice, the ground, etc., on skates.

2. to glide or slide smoothly along.

3. Slang.,  to shirk one's duty; loaf.

4. (of the tone arm on a record player) to swing toward the spindle while a record is playing.

verb (used with object)

skated, skating 

1. to slide (a flat) across the floor of a stage.

skate

²

[skeyt]

noun

plural

skate ,

plural

skates .

1. any of numerous rays of the family Rajidae having paired electric organs within a long, fleshy tail and producing a distinctive egg case (amermaid's purse ): a widespread group of more than 570 species, the largest being Beringraja binoculata big skate of Pacific coastal waters from Alaska to Baja California, known to exceed 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) in length.

skate

³

[skeyt]

noun

Slang.

1. a person; fellow.

   He's a good skate.

2. a contemptible person.

3. an inferior, decrepit horse; nag.

skate

¹

/ skeɪt /

noun

1. See roller skate ice skate

2. the steel blade or runner of an ice skate

3. such a blade fitted with straps for fastening to a shoe

4. a current collector on an electric railway train that collects its current from a third rail Compare bow collector

5. to hurry

verb

1. to glide swiftly on skates

2. to slide smoothly over a surface

3. to place oneself in a dangerous or delicate situation

skate

²

/ skeɪt /

noun

1. any large ray of the family Rajidae, of temperate and tropical seas, having flat pectoral fins continuous with the head, two dorsal fins, a short spineless tail, and a long snout

skate

³

/ skeɪt /

noun

1. slang,  a person; fellow

Other Word Forms

• skateable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of skate¹

First recorded in 1640–50; originally plural scates, from Dutch schaats (singular) “skate,” Middle Dutch schaetse “stilt” (compare Medieval Latin scatia ), of unknown origin

Origin of skate²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English scate, from Old Norse skata

Origin of skate³

First recorded in 1890–95; perhaps special use of skate ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of skate¹

C17: via Dutch from Old French éschasse stilt, probably of Germanic origin

Origin of skate²

C14: from Old Norse skata

Origin of skate³

from Scottish and northern English dialect skate, a derogatory term of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get / put one's skates on, to make haste.

2. skate on thin ice, to be or place oneself in a risky or delicate situation.

   Taking a public stand on the question would be skating on thin ice.

More idioms and phrases containing skate

• cheap skate
• on thin ice, skate

Example Sentences

What surprised Mr Bishop most was not just the thrill of skating, it was the community.

From BBC

The 40-year-old forward, who has played in five of the last six Stanley Cup finals, was injured Friday while skating at his new team’s training complex.

From Los Angeles Times

But in an array of ways, he embodied the popular perception that skating away from destructive, self-serving behavior is something we should expect rich white boys to do.

From Salon

Everyone would descend with matching jackets and go roller skating.

From Los Angeles Times

Much of its live entertainment for the 2025 season was canceled this year, as were its marquee seasonal events, including its Halloween-themed Tricks and Treats and Winterfest, featuring Snoopy ice skating.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• glide