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

But the puck banked off Kuemper and hit both Jacob Moverare’s skate and Cuylle before entering the net. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026

During the winter, guests can soak in the outdoor hot tub, lace up skates on the outdoor ice rink, and take advantage of nearby trails for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. —Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026

Verb

The first two installments of the story dropped on December 30, just a hair over a month after Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander skated into viewers’ lives. —Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 21 Jan. 2026

Teuvo Teräväinen skated before practice in a noncontact jersey, but won’t travel with the team to Carolina. —Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 21 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