ski tow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist/Technical
Quick answer
What does “ski tow” mean?
A mechanical device used to pull skiers up a slope.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mechanical device used to pull skiers up a slope.
Any surface lift system for transporting skiers, such as a rope tow, T-bar, or J-bar. Can also refer to the specific lift or the service of being towed itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term. In the US, specific types like 'rope tow' or 'T-bar' are often used in preference to the generic 'ski tow', especially at resorts.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both; may evoke nostalgia or a basic, less comfortable ski experience.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, limited to skiing contexts. Slightly more common in UK ski travel writing to refer to basic lifts.
Grammar
How to Use “ski tow” in a Sentence
[subject] + use/take/ride + the ski tow + [to location/destination]The + ski tow + [verb: runs, operates, pulls]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ski tow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Beginners often struggle to ski tow properly.
- They were towed up the nursery slope.
American English
- He learned to ski tow on the bunny hill.
- We got towed up to the ridge.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in resort operations manuals or equipment sales.
Academic
Rare. Possibly in sports science or tourism studies.
Everyday
Used by skiers when discussing facilities at a slope.
Technical
Standard term in ski resort engineering, maintenance, and instruction.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ski tow”
- Using 'ski lift' as a perfect synonym (a ski lift is a hypernym). Confusing 'ski tow' with 'snowmobile tow'. Spelling as 'skitow' or 'ski-toe'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A ski tow is a type of surface lift where skiers remain on the ground (e.g., T-bar, rope tow). A chairlift is an aerial lift where skiers sit on a suspended chair.
Yes, but it requires a specific technique, often involving keeping one foot out of the binding. Many snowboarders find T-bar tows easier than rope tows.
Both are types of ski tows. A T-bar has a T-shaped bar for two skiers. A J-bar has a J-shaped or disc-shaped seat for one skier, positioned behind them.
It is a standard term within skiing and winter sports contexts but has very low frequency in general everyday language outside of those situations.
A mechanical device used to pull skiers up a slope.
Ski tow is usually specialist/technical in register.
Ski tow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskiː ˌtəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈski ˌtoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Caught in the tow (metaphorical: being pulled along involuntarily).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a skier being TOWed uphill by a SKI TOW, like a car towing another.
Conceptual Metaphor
MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE IS A PULLING FORCE; EFFORTLESS ASCENT IS BEING TOWED.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'ski tow' most specifically?