frosting

noun

frost·​ing ˈfrȯ-stiŋ 

1

a

: icing

b

: trimming, ornamentation

2

: lusterless finish of metal or glass : mat

also : a white finish produced on glass (as by etching)

3

: the lightening (as by chemicals) of small strands of hair throughout the entire head to produce a two-tone effect compare streaking

Examples of frosting in a Sentence

We put frosting on the cupcakes.

Recent Examples on the Web

The bourbon offers aromas of caramel, vanilla frosting, cornbread, and baked apple, with light honey and seasoned oak notes. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

Spread on top with lemon-cream cheese frosting, and garnished with gumdrop rose petals and fresh mint leaves, this cake will look almost too pretty to eat. —Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 18 May 2026

The syrup is in both the cake and the frosting for this dessert recipe. —Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 17 May 2026

Another option is to mix matcha powder in your favorite frosting or cheesecake recipe. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for frosting

• costing
• defrosting
• exhausting

Kids Definition

frosting

noun

frost·​ing ˈfrȯ-stiŋ 

1

: icing entry 1 sense 1

2

: a dull finish on metal or glass