skateboard

American  

[skeyt-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈskeɪtˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

1. a device for riding upon, usually while standing, consisting of a short, oblong piece of wood, plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum mounted on large roller-skate wheels, used on smooth surfaces and requiring better balance on the part of the rider than ordinary roller skates do.

   Skateboards were pretty “primitive” back in the sixties.

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verb (used without object)

1. to ride a skateboard.

   She skateboarded during her lunch break nearly every day.

skateboard British  

/ ˈskeɪtˌbɔːd /

noun

1. a narrow board mounted on roller-skate wheels, usually ridden while standing up

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verb

1. (intr) to ride on a skateboard

Other Word Forms

• skateboarder
  noun
• skateboarding
  noun

Etymology

Origin of skateboard

First recorded in 1960–65; skate ¹ + board

Explanation

A skateboard is a board with wheels on the bottom that you ride standing up. If you practice enough, you'll be able to do tricks on your skateboard, or at least ride down the block without falling off. When you ride your skateboard, you can say that you skateboard or skate. The sport or activity you do on a skateboard is skateboarding. The first skateboards, consisting of boxes or boards fitted with wheels from roller skates, appeared in the 1940s. The earliest skateboarders were surfers who wanted a way to practice even when they were on dry land—because of this, they were sometimes called "sidewalk surfers."

Example Sentences

Ed Templeton is a painter, photographer and former professional skateboarder who runs Toy Machine Bloodsucking Skateboard Company.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 19, 2024

Skateboard GB has reported a surge in interest in skateboard lessons since 13-year-old Sky Brown won an Olympic bronze medal in August.

From BBC • Sep. 4, 2021

Skateboard training largely involves preparing the body for full-impact slams that can result in long spells off the skateboard.

From New York Times • Jul. 16, 2021

Outside a Taco Bell in south-east Las Vegas, Skateboard Mike crossed an empty parking lot and pointed at the tent encampment that had built up on the ledges of a storm drain.

From The Guardian • Feb. 13, 2020

Where to watch: “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone” is available to stream via Hulu, SlingTV, fubo and AETV.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 10, 2020