What does rink mean?
A rink is an enclosed or designated area of ice used for skating and sports such as ice hockey. The term commonly refers both to the entire facility and, informally, to the ice surface itself, so a person might say that a team plays at the local rink or that a skater is warming up on the rink. In curling, the precise playing area is usually called a sheet, although rink can be used more broadly for the surrounding ice enclosure. Outside North America and Britain, the word remains widely understood but may be less frequent in everyday speech. Its familiar associations include winter recreation, competitive hockey, skating lessons, and the sound of skates cutting across ice. Although rink can also mean a specially prepared outdoor skating area, the standard modern sense is the indoor or enclosed ice venue associated with hockey and public skating.
An enclosed or designated area of ice used for skating, ice hockey, or similar sports.
"The local rink opens for public skating every evening."
The term may refer to the entire facility or, in less formal usage, to its ice surface.
To skate, especially at a public ice rink.
"They rinked together after work."
This is an uncommon and somewhat informal verb, especially associated with British English.
Use the plural when referring to multiple skating or hockey venues.
"The city has several rinks open throughout the winter."
From an enclosed circular space to a frozen arena, “rink” has long pointed people toward ice and motion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rink come from?
The word entered English in the late nineteenth century in the sense of a skating area, borrowing Scots rink from Dutch rink, meaning a ring or enclosed space. Dutch rink, in turn, continues Middle Dutch rink and ultimately relates to a Germanic root meaning “ring” or “circle.” The older meaning of a circular enclosure or arena helped produce the modern sense of an enclosed ice surface. The connection is reflected in related forms such as ring and encircle, which belong to the same broader semantic lineage.
Related word forms
How rink is actually used
In general use, “rink” most often means an ice-skating or hockey arena. In curling, the playing area is commonly called a “sheet,” while “rink” can refer more broadly to the enclosed curling area. The word is standard in British and American English.
Easily confused with rink
A rink is an ice-covered area for skating or hockey, while a ring is a circular band or an enclosed space.