/ skeɪt; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to move on skates (usually referring to ice skating , if no other information is given) :
[ v ]
Can you skate?
It was so cold that we were able to go skating on the lake.
[ vn ]
He skated an exciting programme at the American Championships.
2.
[ v ] to ride on a skateboard
•
IDIOMS
see thin adjective
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- skate over sth
■ noun
1.
= ice skate , roller skate :
a pair of skates
2.
( pl. skate or skates ) a large flat sea fish that can be eaten
•
IDIOMS
- get / put your skates on
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 and verb mid 17th cent. (originally as the plural scates ): from Dutch schaats (singular but interpreted as plural), from Old French eschasse stilt.
noun sense 2 Middle English : from Old Norse skata .