skate

1 of 4

noun (1)

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

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
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Numerous institutional funds from Australia and abroad, representing millions of members, called for Woolworths to act for the skate. Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Kahaku is also a member of the Girl is NOT a 4 Letter Word skate team, a nonprofit sponsored by the American Skateboarding Association that focuses on giving girls and women in skateboarding opportunities, funding and recognition. Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
Lindstein makes great outlets, can skate pucks up ice and shows some blue-line creativity. Corey Pronman, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 Meanwhile, Connecticut skated into this game after exploding for 10 runs in the top of the sixth inning to turn its game on Monday night into a 13-1 rout of South Dakota. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for skate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of skate was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Skate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skate. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

skate

1 of 3 noun
: 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

skate

3 of 3 verb
skated; skating
1
: to glide along on skates
2
: to slide or move as if on skates
skater noun

More from Merriam-Webster on skate

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