toboggan

/tə'bɔgən/

Thân thiện

A child slides down a snowy hill on a wooden toboggan.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long, narrow sled without runners, typically made of wood or plastic, with a curved front that turns upward. It is used for sliding downhill over snow or ice, often by one or more riders sitting or lying on it.

2. Verb:

   • To ride or travel on a toboggan; to slide downhill on such a sled.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • The children pulled the wooden toboggan up the hill for another ride.
  • We rented a toboggan at the winter resort.

• Verb:

  • We spent the afternoon tobogganing down the snowy slopes.
  • They tobogganed together, laughing all the way down.

Advanced Usage

• "To go tobogganing": This is a common phrase meaning to engage in the activity of riding a toboggan.
  • Our favorite winter activity is to go tobogganing in the park.

Variants and Related Words

• Tobogganing (n): The activity or sport of riding on a toboggan.
  • Tobogganing is a popular family pastime here.
• Tobogganer/Tobogganist (n): A person who rides a toboggan.
  • The experienced tobogganer navigated the curve skillfully.

Synonyms

• Sled (n & v): A general term for a vehicle used for sliding over snow or ice.
• Sledge (n & v): (Chiefly British) A vehicle on runners for conveying loads or passengers over snow or ice; can be synonymous with sled.
• Luge (n & v): A light sled for one or two people, used for racing down an icy track. (Note: A luge is a specific type of sled used in competitive sports.)

Different Meanings/Contexts

• The noun toboggan refers specifically to the flat-bottomed sled with a curved front. It is not used for sleds with runners or steering mechanisms.
• As a verb, it specifically describes the action of using this type of sled. It is not a general synonym for "to slide" or "to fall."

Idioms and Phrases

• While there are no common idioms using the word "toboggan," the related activity is sometimes referenced metaphorically.
  • His career went into a toboggan slide after the scandal. (This is an informal, metaphorical use suggesting a rapid, uncontrolled decline, akin to a fast toboggan ride downhill.)

Học thuật

Noun

1. a long narrow sled without runners; boards curve upward in front

Verb

1. move along on a luge or toboggan

Từ đồng nghĩa

• luge