Word
skate
US/ˈskeɪt/
UK/skˈeɪt/
Definitions
01footwear for gliding
n. a boot with a blade or wheels on the bottom used for moving across ice or ground.
n. a boot-mounted frame featuring either a steel runner for ice or wheels for pavement, designed for gliding.
“She sat on the bench to tighten the laces on her skates before going onto the ice.”
“The professional hockey player inspected his skates for any dullness in the blades that might affect his cornering speed during the match.”
Synonyms
03to move on skates
v. to move along a surface using ice skates, roller skates, or a skateboard.
v. to glide or propel oneself across a surface using specialized footwear or a wheeled board.
“The children love to skate at the local park during the summer.”
“The figure skater began to skate across the rink with a fluid grace that masked the immense physical strength required for the routine.”
Synonyms
04to avoid trouble
v. to get away with something or avoid a difficult situation easily.
v. to escape a difficult situation or avoid punishment, often through luck or a lack of evidence.
“He managed to skate through the exam even though he didn't study much.”
“Despite the overwhelming evidence of negligence, the executive managed to skate on the charges due to a technicality in the contract.”
Informal · Slang
Usage
Often used with 'on' or 'through'.
05to move easily
v. to move through a task or place very smoothly and without effort.
v. to progress through a situation or move across a surface with effortless ease.
“She seemed to skate through the interview and got the job offer the next day.”
“The experienced diplomat was able to skate through the delicate negotiations without offending either of the opposing parties.”
Antonyms
Etymology
Back-formation from Dutch schaats, from Middle Dutch schāetse, from Old Northern French escache (“a stilt, trestle”) (compare French échasse and English scatch), from a Germanic language, perhaps Frankish skakkjā (“stilt”, literally “thing that moves”), related to skakan (“to shake, swing”).
From Middle English skat, scate (also schat), from Old Norse skata (“skate”). Cognate with Icelandic skata (“skate, ray”), Norwegian skate (“skate”).
Origin uncertain, but probably related to skite.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Idioms
get one's skates on — To start doing something quickly; to stop procrastinating; to hurry up.
skate around — To be involved in various regions or parts of.
skate on thin ice — To be (or to place oneself) in a risky, potentially dangerous or delicate situation.
skate one's lane — To mind one's own business; focus on one's own goals and tasks and not worry about what others are doing.
skate over — To avoid addressing or tackling.