clap skate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialized/Sports)Technical, Sports Journalism
Quick answer
What does “clap skate” mean?
A specialized type of ice skate where the blade is attached at the front via a hinge, allowing the heel to lift off the ice while pushing, which increases power and efficiency in speed skating.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specialized type of ice skate where the blade is attached at the front via a hinge, allowing the heel to lift off the ice while pushing, which increases power and efficiency in speed skating.
The technological innovation in speed skating equipment that revolutionized the sport in the 1990s, often used metonymically to refer to the modern era of speed skating.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is international in speed skating. US sports media may use 'clap skates' slightly more frequently.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties. Connotes innovation, peak athletic performance, and modern speed skating technique.
Frequency
Extremely low in general discourse. Frequency spikes during Winter Olympic coverage or major speed skating events.
Grammar
How to Use “clap skate” in a Sentence
[athlete] + uses + clap skates[invention] + of + the clap skate[record] + was set + using clap skatesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clap skate” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Dutch team's adoption of the clap skate gave them a decisive edge in Nagano.
- A key feature of the clap skate is the hinge at the front of the boot.
American English
- Her transition to clap skates shaved half a second off her personal best.
- The clap skate was arguably the most significant equipment change in speed skating history.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in context of sports equipment manufacturing or retail.
Academic
Used in sports science, kinesiology, or history of sport literature discussing technological impact.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside specific sports conversations.
Technical
Primary context. Detailed discussions of biomechanics, skating technique, and equipment regulations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clap skate”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clap skate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clap skate”
- Calling all speed skates 'clap skates' (they are a specific type).
- Using 'clap skate' as a verb (e.g., 'to clap skate').
- Confusing with 'clap skates' for rollerblades (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The modern clap skate was developed in the 1980s by Dutch sports scientist Gerrit Jan van Ingen Schenau, though hinged skate concepts existed earlier.
No, they are only used in long track speed skating. Short track skates have a fixed, differently designed blade for tight cornering.
They were used sporadically in the early 1990s and were widely adopted by the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, after which they became mandatory for top-level long track competition.
It's named for the audible 'clap' sound the blade makes when it springs back to contact the heel of the boot after the push is completed.
A specialized type of ice skate where the blade is attached at the front via a hinge, allowing the heel to lift off the ice while pushing, which increases power and efficiency in speed skating.
Clap skate is usually technical, sports journalism in register.
Clap skate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklæp ˌskeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklæp ˌskeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The clap skate revolution”
- “Born in the clap skate era”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the blade 'clapping' back onto the heel after each push, like a clap of thunder following lightning-fast movement.
Conceptual Metaphor
TECHNOLOGY IS A LEVER (providing mechanical advantage); INNOVATION IS A REVOLUTION (changing the fundamental rules).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary functional advantage of a clap skate?