glacial

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adjective gla·cial \ˈglā-shəl\

: of or relating to glaciers : produced or caused by glaciers

: very cold

: very slow

Full Definition of GLACIAL

1

:  suggestive of ice: as

a :  extremely cold :  frigid <a glacial wind>

b :  devoid of warmth and cordiality <a glacial handshake>

c :  coldly imperturbable <maintained a glacial calm>

2

:  of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals <glacial acetic acid>

3

a (1) :  of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present (2) capitalized :  pleistocene

b :  of, relating to, or produced by glaciers

c :  suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers <progress on the bill has been glacial>

— gla·cial·ly \-shə-lē\ adverb

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Examples of GLACIAL

1. Progress on the bill has been glacial.
2. <a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend>

Origin of GLACIAL

Latin glacialis, from glacies

First Known Use: 1656

Related to GLACIAL

Synonyms

algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, coldish, cool, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, gelid, cold, ice-cold, icy, nipping, nippy, numbing, polar, shivery, snappy, wintry (also wintery)

Antonyms

ardent, blazing, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, glowing, hot, igneous, molten, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, seething, sizzling, sultry, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, warming, white-hot

Related Words

cryogenic, subfreezing, subzero, ultracold; cutting, keen, penetrating, piercing, sharp; bracing, brisk, crisp, invigorating, rigorous; chilled, cooled, frosted, frozen, iced, refrigerated, unheated

Near Antonyms

lukewarm, tepid; heated, overheated, reheated, warmed; snug, toasty, warm; feverish, flushed, inflamed (also enflamed); canicular, equatorial, muggy, steamy, summery, tropical

Rhymes with GLACIAL

facial, racial, spatial