Illustration of skate
plural skates also skate
: any of a family (Rajidae) of rays with the pectoral fins greatly developed giving the fish a flat diamond shape
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
skated; skating
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
: to go along or through by skating
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
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 However, there was a really scary moment in a Game 4 thriller when one player took a skate blade straight to the face. —Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026 Like the Milan Cortina Olympics, the French Alps has split snow sports in storied mountain resorts and skating in a snow-free city, the French Riviera resort Nice. —ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for skate
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
Lundkvist took McCarron’s skate to the face in the second period of Game 4 and suffered a deep facial laceration. —Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026 However, there was a really scary moment in a Game 4 thriller when one player took a skate blade straight to the face. —Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
The robot transitions smoothly between rolling and stepping, executing ice-skating and roller-skating maneuvers with coordinated control of both its wheels and articulated legs. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026 Like the Milan Cortina Olympics, the French Alps has split snow sports in storied mountain resorts and skating in a snow-free city, the French Riviera resort Nice. —ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for skate
Cite this Entry
“Skate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/skate. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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