skier

skier — noun

1. a person who moves across snow on long narrow boards called skis, which are atta

1.nounA2
Definition

a person who moves across snow on long narrow boards called skis, which are attached to boots, for sport or enjoyment.

Example

Saira has been a keen skier since she was a young child.

be a [adjective] skier — describing type of skier

The mountain rescue team found the injured skier near a steep black run.

adjective + skier — injured/trained skier

Common collocations
  • keen skier
  • expert skier
  • professional skier
  • beginner skier
  • experienced skier
  • downhill skier
Synonyms
  • snowboarder

    a person who snowboards using a single board; related but distinct sport

  • alpine skier

    specifically a skier who races or skis downhill on groomed slopes

  • cross-country skier

    a skier who skis across flat or rolling terrain rather than downhill

Grammar Patterns

a skier

skiers (plural)

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Skier is the general term for anyone who uses skis on snow. A snowboarder uses a single wide board instead of two skis; the sports share many slopes but use different techniques and equipment. Within skiing, an alpine skier focuses on downhill runs with fixed-heel bindings and carved turns on groomed slopes, while a cross-country skier uses lighter equipment with free-heel bindings to travel across flatter terrain over longer distances. For example, Dahlia is an alpine skier who loves steep slopes, while her brother prefers being a cross-country skier on forest trails.

skier ↗snowboarderalpine skiercross-country skier

Common collocations

Phrases

  • keen skier
  • expert skier
  • professional skier
  • beginner skier

Prepositions

  • on [slopes/mountains]
  • in [race/competition]

Etymology

Old NorseNorwegianEnglish

The word skier comes from ski, which entered English from Norwegian in the mid-1700s. The Norwegian word ski came from Old Norse skíð, meaning a piece of split wood or a snowshoe-like plank. The -er suffix marks it as a person who does the action of skiing.