skate

skate¹ [skeıt] n

[Sense: 1-2,4; Date: 1600-1700; : Dutch; Origin: schaats 'stilt, skate', from Old North French escache 'stilt']

[Sense: 3; Date: 1300-1400; : Old Norse; Origin: skata]

1.)

one of a pair of boots with metal blades on the bottom, for moving quickly on ice

= ↑ice skate

2.)

one of a pair of boots or frames with small wheels on the bottom, for moving quickly on flat smooth surfaces

= ↑roller skate

3.) [U and C] plural skate or skates

a large flat sea fish that can be eaten

4.) get/put your skates on

BrE spoken used to tell someone to hurry

▪ Put your skates on, or you'll be late for school.

skate ²

skate² v

1.) to move on skates

▪ The children skated on the frozen pond.

2.) be skating on thin ice [i]informal

to be doing something that may get you into trouble

>skater n

skate over/around [skate over/around sth] phr v

to avoid mentioning a problem or subject, or not give it enough attention

▪ The President was accused of skating over the issue of the homeless.