icing

1 of 2

noun (1)

ic·​ing ˈī-siŋ 

1

: a sweet flavored usually creamy mixture used to coat baked goods (such as cupcakes)

called also frosting

2

: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event

—often used in the phrase icing on the cake

icing

2 of 2

noun (2)

: an illegal act by an ice hockey player of shooting a puck from within the defensive zone or defensive half of the rink beyond the opponents' goal line but not into the goal

Examples of icing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Once the cake comes out of the oven, poke holes throughout and pour the icing over while the cake is warm. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2026

The photo showed the mom of one in front of a cake with white icing and a pink candle, while her son sat beside her. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

But the electrification division and its explosive growth are the icing on the cake. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 2 July 2026

The supple vegan leather construction easily passes for the real thing, and the $24 price tag is just the icing on the cake. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1948, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing icing

• anti-icing
• icing on the cake
• icing sugar
• royal icing

Rhymes for icing

• deicing
• dicing
• pricing
• slicing
• splicing
• enticing
• sufficing
• sacrificing
• satisficing

Kids Definition

icing

1 of 2 noun

ic·​ing ˈī-siŋ 

1

: a sweet coating for baked goods (as cakes)

called also frosting

2

: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event

—often used in the phrase icing on the cake

icing

2 of 2 noun

: the shooting of a hockey puck the length of the rink and beyond the opponent's goal line