skate

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskāt 

plural skates also skate

: any of a family (Rajidae) of rays with the pectoral fins greatly developed giving the fish a flat diamond shape

Illustration of skate

skate

2 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a metal frame that can be fitted to the sole of a shoe and to which is attached a runner or a set of wheels for gliding over ice or a surface other than ice

b

: roller skate

especially : in-line skate

c

: ice skate

2

: a period of skating

skate

3 of 4

verb

skated; skating

intransitive verb

1

: to glide along on skates propelled by the alternate action of the legs

2

: to slip or glide as if on skates

3

: to proceed in a superficial or blithe manner

transitive verb

: to go along or through by skating

skate

4 of 4

noun (3)

1

: a thin awkward-looking or decrepit horse : nag

2

: fellow sense 4c

Examples of skate in a Sentence

Verb

hockey players skating into position

Couples skated around the rink.

She skated an excellent program in the competition.

We skate at the park.

The bugs skated along the surface of the water.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Wearing carbon-composite skates that weigh about two pounds each, Malinin reaches a vertical leap of approximately 30 inches on his quad axel—one kinematic study captured it at 33 inches, similar to the standing vertical leaps of NBA players such as Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant. —Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026

Saturday was the first time that skates touched the ice, and the league will continue to work to improve the quality of the sheet, even after the tent comes off. —Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026

Verb

Christian Hinckle skated around the back of the net to the left corner and found Landon Carlson in the slot for a snap that cut the deficit to 2-1. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 29 Jan. 2026

And to add lights so people can skate at night. —CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English scate, from Old Norse skata

Noun (2)

modification of Dutch schaats, from Middle Dutch schaetse stilt, from Old French dialect (Flanders, Hainaut) *escace, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old English sceacan to shake — more at shake

Noun (3)

probably alteration of English dialect skite an offensive person

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1696, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (3)

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing skate

• figure skate
• hockey skate
• ice skate
• in-line skate
• roller skate
• skate over/around
• skate park

Rhymes for skate

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

skate

1 of 3 noun

ˈskāt 

: any of numerous rays that have broad winglike fins

skate

2 of 3 noun

1

: a metallic runner fitting the sole of a shoe or a shoe with a permanently attached runner used for gliding on ice

2

: roller skate

skate

3 of 3 verb

skated; skating

1

: to glide along on skates

2

: to slide or move as if on skates

skater noun