noun
Uncommon
glacier
GLAS-yuh
Glacier (noun) means a large, slow-moving mass of ice formed from compacted snow. Example: “The glacier has retreated significantly over the past century.”
noun
1
A large, slow-moving mass of ice formed from compacted snow.
"The glacier has retreated significantly over the past century."
"Tourists hiked to the base of the glacier."
"Meltwater from the glacier feeds the river that runs through the valley."
How to use glacier
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA huge, slow-flowing river of ice, usually found in mountains or polar regions.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
melting glacier
glacier ice
retreating glacier
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Word forms
- Plural
- glaciers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ has retreated significantly over the past century.
Etymology
Borrowed from French glacier, ultimately from Latin glacies ("ice"); first recorded in English in 1744.
Class of 1744
glacier joined the language around 1744.
See the full Class of 1744 →
Synonyms
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ice sheet
icefield
ice mass
ice cap
Rhymes for glacier
See all rhymes for glacier →Frequently asked questions
What does “glacier” mean?
The word “glacier” means a large, slow-moving mass of ice formed from compacted snow. In plain terms, a huge, slow-flowing river of ice, usually found in mountains or polar regions.
How do you pronounce “glacier”?
“Glacier” is pronounced GLAS-yuh (/ˈɡleɪ.ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “glacier” in a sentence?
Here is “glacier” used in a sentence: “The glacier has retreated significantly over the past century.”
What part of speech is “glacier”?
“Glacier” is a noun.
Where does the word “glacier” come from?
The word “glacier” dates back to around 1744 and comes from Latin. Borrowed from French glacier, ultimately from Latin glacies ("ice"); first recorded in English in 1744.
Is “glacier” a common word?
“Glacier” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a glacier and an iceberg?
A glacier is a large, slow-moving mass of ice formed on land from compacted snow, whereas an iceberg is a chunk of ice that has broken off, or "calved," from a glacier or ice shelf and floats in open water. In short, icebergs often originate from glaciers but are a separate, floating form.
What is the difference between a glacier and an ice sheet?
A glacier is generally a distinct, river-like body of ice confined to a valley or mountain area, while an ice sheet is a much larger, continuous mass of ice covering a vast region, such as those found in Antarctica or Greenland. Ice sheets can feed multiple glaciers that flow outward from them.
Why do glaciers move so slowly?
Glaciers move under the pressure of their own enormous weight and gravity, causing the compacted ice to deform and slide gradually downhill. This extremely slow movement is the origin of the phrase "glacial pace" to describe something moving very slowly.
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