luge

IPA/luːʒ/
KK[lˈudʒ]IPA/luːʒ/

luge — noun

  • lugesingular
  • lugesplural

1. a narrow sled without any steering wheels, made for a rider to lie in a backward

1.nounB1
Definition

a narrow sled without any steering wheels, made for a rider to lie in a backward-leaning position with their toes aimed forward, used to race down an ice-covered course

Example

The Austrian team carefully inspected the luge before the final run of the competition.

noun as object of careful inspection

Beatrix's new luge had been shaped from fibreglass and steel for extra speed.

possessive + noun with material description

Common collocations
  • design a luge
  • fibreglass luge
  • steel runners
Synonyms
  • sled

    a more general term for any vehicle on runners that slides over snow or ice; a luge is a specific type of competition sled

  • toboggan

    a type of sled without runners, usually used on snow for leisure rather than on ice for racing

Grammar Patterns

a + luge

the + luge

possessive + luge

Usage Note

Unlike a traditional sled, a luge has no steering mechanism — riders steer by shifting their body weight and using their calves or shoulders to apply pressure to the steel runners.

Common Mistakes

He bought a luge for playing in the snow with his kids.
He bought a sled for playing in the snow with his kids.
A luge is a specialised racing vehicle, not a toy for general use.

2. the sporting activity in which people race against each other or a clock by trav

2.nounB1
Definition

the sporting activity in which people race against each other or a clock by travelling down a steep ice-covered track on a luge, with the fastest time winning

Example

Luge is one of the fastest and most dangerous events at the Winter Olympics.

noun as subject — described as fastest event

The women's luge competition at the Beijing Games attracted huge crowds.

attributive noun — luge competition

Common collocations
  • compete in luge
  • luge competition
  • watch luge
Synonyms
  • sled racing

    a more general term that can cover various types of sled competitions on snow or ice

  • sliding sport

    the broader category that includes luge, skeleton, and bobsleigh

Grammar Patterns

luge as an uncountable noun for the sport

the + luge + event

Usage Note

Common in Olympic contexts. Luge is one of three sliding sports at the Winter Games, alongside bobsleigh and skeleton.

Common Mistakes

Luge and skeleton are the same sport.
Luge and skeleton are different sliding sports
in luge the rider goes feet first on their back, while in skeleton the rider goes head first face down.' — The body position and direction of travel are reversed.

Word family

  • luger
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Luge, skeleton, and bobsleigh are all winter sliding sports, but they differ in equipment, body position, and team size. In luge, athletes lie on their back, feet first, on a small fibreglass sled, steering mainly by shifting their weight. Skeleton is similar but riders go head first, lying face down on a smaller, heavier sled. Bobsleigh involves teams of two or four people inside an enclosed shell, steering through a mechanical cable system. A simple sled or sled racing is a more general term for any vehicle on runners sliding over snow or ice, not necessarily for competition. For example: 'She had never tried luge before the Olympic trials' vs 'The four-person team broke the track record in the bobsleigh event.'

skeleton ↗bobsleighsled racing

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • luge racing
  • luge champion

Prepositions

Etymology

Medieval LatinFranco-ProvençalSwiss FrenchEnglish

The word luge was borrowed into English from the Swiss French and Franco-Provençal dialect word for a small sled. It can be traced further back to a medieval Latin word meaning 'sledge' or 'sled', with possible roots in older Celtic languages from the Alps region.