ice-skate

A child learns to ice-skate on a frozen pond.

Definition

1. Verb (intransitive): To move across a surface of ice on ice skates (boots with a metal blade attached to the bottom) as a form of recreation, sport, or transportation.

   • The primary meaning: to perform the action of gliding on ice using skates.
   • Example: She loves to ice-skate on the frozen lake every winter.

2. Noun (countable): A boot with a metal blade attached to the sole, used for gliding on ice.

   • This refers to the physical object itself.
   • Example: He bought a new pair of ice-skates for the hockey season.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Children often ice-skate in the park when the pond freezes over. (They engage in recreational gliding on ice.)
  • He learned to ice-skate at the age of five. (He acquired the skill of moving on ice skates.)

• Noun:

  • Her ice-skate has a sharp blade that needs regular maintenance. (The physical skate object.)
  • I need to rent an ice-skate for the rink session. (A single skate boot.)

Advanced Usage

• "to go ice-skating": A common phrasal expression meaning to participate in the activity of ice-skating.

  • We decided to go ice-skating at the indoor rink. (We chose to engage in the activity of skating on ice.)

• "ice-skate on thin ice": A metaphorical phrase meaning to be in a risky or dangerous situation.

  • He is ice-skating on thin ice by ignoring the warnings. (He is taking a serious risk.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ice-skater (noun): A person who ice-skates.

  • The professional ice-skater performed a flawless routine. (A skilled skater on ice.)

• Ice-skating (noun): The activity or sport of moving on ice skates.

  • Ice-skating is a popular winter pastime in cold climates. (The sport or recreation.)

Synonyms

• Skate (verb): To move on skates (can refer to ice skates or roller skates; context clarifies).

  • She skates every weekend at the rink. (She performs the action of skating.)

• Glide (verb): To move smoothly and continuously across a surface.

  • The figure skater glided effortlessly across the ice. (Moved smoothly without interruption.)

Related Idioms

• "Skate on thin ice": To take a risk or be in a precarious situation.

  • You are skating on thin ice if you keep lying to your boss. (You are in a dangerous position.)

• "Skate over something": To deal with a problem or topic quickly or superficially.

  • The report skated over the financial issues without giving details. (It treated the matter too lightly.)