Skate
skate
skate as food
a kind of fish – salt water – flat body – bottom dweller (= lives and feeds on the sea bed) – cartilaginous (= the skeleton is made of tough but flexible substance called ‘cartilage’, not bone) – related to the ray family – kite-shaped or diamond-shaped body with the side fins growing around the brown or grey body, eyes on the upper side and the mouth and gills on the pale grey or white underside, long spineless tail without a barb or sting; size: (varies widely) {the smallest – 20 inches in length and 450 grams in weight, and the largest 6-8 feet in length and 10-15 kg.} on average, 3-6 feet in length and 5-10 kg. in weight (some individuals of the large species can grow up to 20 feet, and female can weigh about 100 Kg. and male 50 Kg.); feeds on (eats) fish, and bottom-dwelling sea animals; lives for, on average, 20 years (some species live for 50 years); about 200 species (?) (kinds) found in most parts of the world
Special Features:
The skates are a popular food and game fish – hunted for food and for pleasure!
roller skates
{The word ‘skate’, mostly in its plural form, is more commonly used for a kind of sport in which a person wears a kind of special shoes that allow them to move smoothly on a surface, such as ice skates, roller skates and skateboard.}
Figures of Speech:
1.
skate (noun) =
(a) a person; a fellow
(b) a horse in a bad condition; a nag
2.
to skate (verb) =
(a) to move smoothly on a surface
(b) to behave in an irresponsible manner
3.
skate-rump = a thin, awkward-looking person
Mr. Kumar, an English language teacher, having taught in many countries around the world including Ethiopia and Oman shares this English Language Reference website using material that he has written and compiled during the past 20 years.
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