# ski

/ˈski/ (US) · /skˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ski
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. equipment for snow or water

noun · CEFR A2

one of a pair of long, narrow pieces of wood, metal, or plastic used for sliding over snow or water.

For teachers: a long, narrow runner of wood, plastic, or metal, often curved upward at the tip, used in pairs for gliding over snow or water.

- He waxed his skis before heading out to the mountain for the day.
- Modern skis are engineered with complex composite materials to provide both flexibility and edge control on icy slopes.

### 2. aircraft landing gear

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

one of the flat runners under a plane or helicopter used for landing on snow or ice.

For teachers: a runner attached to the landing gear of an aircraft to facilitate take-off and landing on snow-covered surfaces.

- The small plane was fitted with skis so it could land on the frozen lake.
- The bush pilot inspected the hydraulic lines of the retractable skis before departing for the remote Arctic research station.

### 3. to move on skis

verb · CEFR A2

to move over snow or water using skis, usually as a hobby or sport.

For teachers: to travel over a surface, typically snow or water, using skis; functions as both a transitive and intransitive verb.

- We plan to ski in the Alps during our winter holiday.
- Professional athletes often ski several hours a day to maintain the leg strength required for competitive downhill racing.

## Examples

- He needs to wax his skis before the trip.
- The pilot swapped the airplane's wheels for skis to ensure a safe landing on the frozen lake.
- Modern skis are engineered with complex composite materials to provide the perfect balance of flexibility and edge control for high-speed descents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.