SKATE

n. & v. --n. 1 each of a pair of steel blades (or of boots with blades attached) for gliding on ice. 2 (in full roller skate) each of a pair of metal frames with small wheels, fitted to shoes for riding on a hard surface. 3 a device on which a heavy object moves. --v. 1 a intr. move on skates. b tr. perform (a specified figure) on skates. 2 intr. (foll. by over) refer fleetingly to, disregard. øget one's skates on Brit. sl. make haste. skate on thin ice colloq. behave rashly, risk danger, esp. by dealing with a subject needing tactful treatment. skating-rink a piece of ice artificially made, or a floor used, for skating. øøskater n. [orig. scates (pl.) f. Du. schaats (sing.) f. ONF escace, OF eschasse stilt]