glacier
/ˈɡlæ.si.ə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A glacier is a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, usually in mountains or near the poles.
- The glacier moved very slowly down the valley.
- Scientists are studying the glacier’s melting rate.
- We saw a glacier from the mountain road.
Adinary Nuance
A glacier is not just any ice or snow. It is a huge body of ice that stays in one place for years and moves slowly. Use glacier for natural ice formations, not for frozen water in general like 'ice' or 'snow.'
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sông băng
- Spanish
- glaciar
- Chinese
- 冰川
- Japanese
- 氷河
- Korean
- 빙하
Etymology
Glacier came into English from French in the 1600s. The French word came from Old French and is linked to words meaning 'ice' or 'frozen ice.'
Common phrases
glacier meltglacier retreatglacier iceglacier valley
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is a glacier the same as an iceberg?
- No. A glacier forms on land, while an iceberg floats in water.
- Is glacier a common word in academic English?
- Yes. It is common in geography, climate, and environmental topics.
- Can I say 'glacier ice' and 'glacier snow'?
- Yes, but 'glacier ice' is more natural. 'Glacier snow' is less common.