Definition of 'sledge'

COBUILD frequency band

sledge

(sledʒ

)

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense sledges , present participle sledging , past tense, past participle sledged

1. countable noun [oft by NOUN]

A sledge is an object used for travelling over snow. It consists of a framework which slides on two strips of wood or metal.

[British]

She travelled 14,000 miles by sledge across Siberia to Kamchatka.

Synonyms: bobsleigh, sled [US, Canadian], sleigh, toboggan More Synonyms of sledge

2. verb

If you sledge or go sledging, you ride on a sledge.

[British]

Our hill is marvellous for sledging and we always have snow in January. [VERB-ing]

[Also VERB preposition]

Synonyms: bobsleigh, sled [US], sleigh, toboggan More Synonyms of sledge

Image of
sledge

sledge in British English 1

(slɛdʒ

) or especially US and Canadian sled (slɛd

)

noun

1. Also called: sleigh

a vehicle mounted on runners, drawn by horses or dogs, for transporting people or goods, esp over snow

a light wooden frame used, esp by children, for sliding over snow; toboggan

3. New Zealand

a farm vehicle mounted on runners, for use on rough or muddy ground

verb

to convey, travel, or go by sledge

Word origin

C17: from Middle Dutch sleedse; C14 sled, from Middle Low German, from Old Norse slethi, related to slide

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sledge in British English 2

(slɛdʒ

)

noun

short for sledgehammer

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sledge in British English 3

(slɛdʒ

)

verb

1. (transitive)

to bait (an opponent, esp a batter in cricket) in order to upset his or her concentration

noun

an insult aimed at another player during a game of cricket

Word origin

of uncertain origin; perhaps from sledgehammer

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sledge in American English 1

(slɛdʒ )

noun, verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: sledged, ˈsledgingOrigin: ME slegge < OE slecge < base of slean, to strike, slay

var. of sledgehammer

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sledge in American English 2

(slɛdʒ )

nounOrigin: MDu sleedse, akin to sledde, sled

a sled or sleigh for carrying loads over ice, snow, etc.

verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: sledged, ˈsledging

to go or take by sledge

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sledge in American English 1

(sledʒ) (verb sledged, sledging)

noun

a vehicle of various forms, mounted on runners and often drawn by draft animals, used for traveling or for conveying loads over snow, ice, rough ground, etc

a sled

3. Brit

a sleigh

transitive verb or intransitive verb

to convey or travel by sledge

intransitive verb

5. Brit

to sleigh

Word origin

[1595–1605; ‹ dial. D sleeds, deriv. of slede sled; cf. sleigh]

COBUILD frequency band

sledge in American English 2

(sledʒ)

noun, transitive verb or intransitive verbWord forms: sledged, sledging

sledgehammer (sense 1), sledgehammer (sense 2)

Word origin

[bef. 1000; ME slegge, OE slecg; c. D slegge, ON sleggja; akin to slay]

Examples of 'sledge' in a sentence
sledge

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They are still smiling and not sledging.Just weeks ago we were sledging on these hills.Those who defend it say sledging has been around as long as the game has been played.During the winter months there is a little hill for sledging – and few people know about it.Teams sledge while they are winning; they do not win because they are sledging.In cricket, sledging is little less than a curse.Not to mention our night-time dog sledge ride.Britain also has an ice sledge hockey team, but they failed to qualify for Sochi.At last all was ready, the boxes lashed on to the sledge while the dogs waited to dash down the hill with me for the last time.It uses areas in northern Finland for its tours and promises individual family visits to Santa and no hidden charges for activities such as husky sledge rides.