ski
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A long, narrow piece of hard material worn underfoot for gliding over snow.
The sport, activity, or equipment of moving over snow on skis; also refers to similar equipment for water or sand.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it is countable (skis). The verb is regular (skied, skiing) but can be irregular in some dialects. Can be used attributively (e.g., ski resort, ski boots).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of derived terms may differ (e.g., ski center (US) vs ski centre (UK)).
Connotations
Both share the same primary connotations of winter sports, recreation, and alpine holidays.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects, given the global nature of the sport.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb] skis[sb] skis [down/on/over] [sth][sb] goes skiingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Ski the fall line.”
- “To be on a slippery slope.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the winter sports tourism and equipment industry.
Academic
Used in sports science or tourism studies.
Everyday
Commonly refers to holiday plans, winter activities, and personal experiences.
Technical
In sports, refers to specific equipment design, techniques, or biomechanics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She learned to ski in the Alps.
- We skied down the red run.
American English
- He skis every weekend in Vermont.
- They water-skied on the lake.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- We booked a ski chalet in France.
- The ski pass is quite expensive.
American English
- They sell ski equipment at the lodge.
- She took a ski lesson.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I want to learn to ski.
- These skis are very long.
- We're going skiing in Switzerland next winter.
- He bought new ski boots.
- Having skied competitively for years, she decided to become an instructor.
- The resort invested in a new high-speed ski lift.
- His technique flawlessly blends the precision of slalom skiing with the audacity of freestyle.
- The economic viability of the region is inextricably linked to the ski industry.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SKI: Snow Kicks In when you strap these on.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A SKI RUN (e.g., 'navigating a tricky slope,' 'taking the easy run').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- In Russian, 'лыжи' (lyzhi) is pluralia tantum, but English 'ski' is singular (a ski, two skis).
- Avoid translating 'to go skiing' word-for-word as 'идти на лыжах'; use the standard collocation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ski' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'I need new ski' instead of 'new skis').
- Confusing 'ski' and 'sky' in pronunciation or spelling.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'ski' correctly as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard past tense and participle is 'skied' (e.g., 'I skied'). 'Skiied' is a common spelling mistake.
Yes, we have 'water ski' (on water) and less commonly 'grass ski' or 'sand ski' for other surfaces.
'Skiing' is the gerund/noun form for the activity ('Skiing is fun'). 'To ski' is the infinitive form of the verb ('I want to ski').
Both are correct. 'A pair of skis' is common when referring to the set, but 'I need new skis' is equally natural.