ski
shee
Ski (noun) means one of a pair of long, narrow boards attached to boots for gliding over snow. Example: “She strapped on her skis and pushed off down the gentle slope.”
noun
1
One of a pair of long, narrow boards attached to boots for gliding over snow.
"She strapped on her skis and pushed off down the gentle slope."
"The shop rents out skis and boots by the day."
"He waxed his skis before hitting the slopes."
"Disaster at the newly opened ski resort where hard-driving tycoon Hudson is determined to double his not insubstantial investment while his ex-wife Mia is making whoopee with one of the locals championing ecology."
— Leonard Maltin, Leonard Maltin's TV Movies and Video Guide (1990)
"We skied back the way we had come for about thirty minutes when I saw her. Mary was hanging upside down by the tips of her skies from a tree well."
— Inspiring Generations: 150 Years, 150 Stories in Yosemite (2014)
verb
1
To travel over snow using skis.
"We spent the winter holidays skiing the Alps"
"My grandmother still skis every winter, even though she is nearly eighty."
"Do you want to learn to ski this year?"
"We skied down the mountain until sunset."
How to use ski
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe equipment for gliding on snow, or the act of doing so.
Common pairings
go skiing
ski slope
ski resort
water ski
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Word forms
- Plural
- skis
- Third person singular
- skis, skies
- Past tense
- skied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She strapped on her _____ and pushed off down the gentle slope.
Etymology
From Norwegian "ski," from Old Norse "skíð," meaning "stick of wood" or "snowshoe."
Frequently asked questions
What does “ski” mean?
The word “ski” means one of a pair of long, narrow boards attached to boots for gliding over snow. In plain terms, the equipment for gliding on snow, or the act of doing so.
How do you pronounce “ski”?
“Ski” is pronounced shee (/skiː/ in IPA).
How do you use “ski” in a sentence?
Here is “ski” used in a sentence: “He waxed his skis before hitting the slopes.”
What part of speech is “ski”?
Depending on how it is used, “ski” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “ski” come from?
The word “ski” comes from Old Norse. From Norwegian "ski," from Old Norse "skíð," meaning "stick of wood" or "snowshoe.".
Is “ski” a common word?
“Ski” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “ski” have?
“Ski” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of a pair of long, narrow boards attached to boots for gliding over snow.
What is the difference between skiing and snowboarding?
Skiing uses two separate long, narrow boards, one attached to each boot, so the feet point forward and move independently. Snowboarding uses a single wide board with both feet fixed sideways, so the two sports differ in equipment and stance.
What is the plural of ski?
The plural of the noun ski is skis, referring to the pair of boards worn on the feet. Note that skis is also the third-person singular form of the verb, as in 'she skis every winter.'
How do you spell the past tense of ski?
The past tense of the verb ski is skied, as in 'they skied down the slope.' The present participle is skiing, spelled with a double i.
What is the difference between ski and sled?
You ski by standing on skis attached to your boots and gliding across the snow yourself. You ride a sled, which is a separate vehicle that carries you as it slides, so skiing involves wearing the equipment while sledding involves riding on it.
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