snowblade

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablesport

   A very short ski, used in a pair without poles, that makes turning and tricks easier than on full-length skis.

   Grammar: Almost always plural, because they come in pairs: a pair of snowblades.

   Patterns

   • a pair of snowblades
   • on snowblades

   He took up snowblades after a friend let him try them on a quiet slope.

   Snowblades are easy to carry, so I strap them to my backpack.

   She did a small jump on her snowblades and landed it neatly.

2. 2verbintransitiveinformalrare

   To travel or play on snowblades.

   Grammar: No object: we went snowblading.

   Patterns

   • go snowblading

   We spent the weekend snowblading in the Alps.

   Few people were snowblading on the busy pistes.

   Kids are snowblading on the beginner slope.

Word forms

Common combinations

a pair of snowblades

I rented a pair of snowblades for the day.

strap on snowblades

He strapped on his snowblades at the top of the hill.

learn to snowblade

It took me a week to learn to snowblade.

snowblade park

The resort has a small snowblade park.

ride snowblades

Teens like to ride snowblades in the half-pipe.

Synonyms and how they differ

short skis

It is the plain description, while snowblades names the specific kind used without poles.

skiboards

It is a close alternative term, often used in the sport itself.

skis

It is the general word and implies full length, so snowblades are a particular short type.

snowboard

It is a single wide board, while snowblades are two separate short skis.

Word family

snowblading noun

the sport of using snowblades

snowblader noun

a person who uses snowblades

snow noun

frozen precipitation

blade noun

a thin flat edge

Commonly confused: snowblade or snowboard?

Practice

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