[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/skittles/)

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# skittles

noun (skittles — uncountable game; a skittle, skittles — pins); proper noun (Skittles — a name)

«skittles» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A game in which you roll a ball to knock down wooden pins; like bowling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#m1)
2. (plural of skittle) The wooden or plastic pins used in this game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#m2)
3. (a name) Skittles is a brand of small, fruity, colourful chewy sweets (candies). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#m3)

### In the lessons

In PE and at parties, children play skittles with plastic pins and a ball. In pubs in England, skittles is a traditional game. In maths, skittles are good for counting problems: "10 skittles, 7 knocked down — how many standing?" 10 − 7 = 3. The sweets are popular in the US, UK and elsewhere. Phrases: play skittles, a skittle alley, knock down the skittles, a bag of Skittles.

### Examples

- We played skittles in the garden. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#x1)
- I knocked down eight skittles with one ball. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#x2)
- If you knock down 6 of 9 skittles, 3 are still standing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#x3)
- My friend shared her bag of Skittles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#x4)
- The skittles fell over with a clatter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#x5)
- Grandad plays skittles at the pub on Fridays. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/#x6)

### Note

The game takes a singular verb: "Skittles is fun." The pins are countable: "a skittle, skittles". The sweets are a brand name with a capital S. In maths: standing = total − knocked down.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «skittles» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/skittles/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«skittles» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/skittles.html) on Mova free.