noun
Uncommon
icing
EYE-sihng
Icing (noun) means a sweet coating, usually made from sugar and often butter or egg white, spread or piped onto cakes and other baked goods. Example: “She piped pink icing around the edge of the birthday cake.”
noun
1
A sweet coating, usually made from sugar and often butter or egg white, spread or piped onto cakes and other baked goods.
"She piped pink icing around the edge of the birthday cake."
"The cupcakes were topped with a thick layer of chocolate icing."
2
In ice hockey, an infraction where a player shoots the puck the length of the rink past the opponent's goal line without it being touched.
"The referee called icing after the puck slid untouched into the far end."
"A team can't be penalised for icing while playing short-handed."
How to use icing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the sweet sugary topping on cakes; in hockey it's a specific rule violation.
Common mistake
The phrase "icing on the cake" means an extra bonus on top of something already good — not literally about baking.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
icing on the cake
cream cheese icing
call icing
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Word forms
- Plural
- icings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She piped pink _____ around the edge of the birthday cake.
Etymology
Formed from the verb "ice" (to cover with a sugar glaze) plus "-ing".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for icing
See all rhymes for icing →Frequently asked questions
What does “icing” mean?
The word “icing” means a sweet coating, usually made from sugar and often butter or egg white, spread or piped onto cakes and other baked goods. In plain terms, most often the sweet sugary topping on cakes; in hockey it's a specific rule violation.
How do you pronounce “icing”?
“Icing” is pronounced EYE-sihng (/ˈaɪsɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “icing” in a sentence?
Here is “icing” used in a sentence: “She piped pink icing around the edge of the birthday cake.”
What part of speech is “icing”?
“Icing” is a noun.
Is “icing” a common word?
“Icing” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “icing” have?
“Icing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sweet coating, usually made from sugar and often butter or egg white, spread or piped onto cakes and other baked goods.
