black ice

noun

: a nearly transparent film of ice on a dark surface (such as a paved road or a body of water) that is difficult to see

Example Sentences

Drivers should beware of black ice.
Recent Examples on the Web The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities reported black ice, snow and slush making multiple roads — including Glenn Highway — wet and icy. Anchorage Daily News, 30 Jan. 2023 Today the streets are covered with black ice, the city is largely without power, and the Popovs just picked up supplies from a van distributing humanitarian aid. Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2022 And when the road disappears entirely and you’re left to follow wheel-deep ruts lined with black ice? Dan Neil, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2022 Anyone who’s ever trudged through the snow from screening to screening — or slipped on black ice mid-transit — knows that there is no experiential substitute, virtual or otherwise, for a festival as physically immersive and meteorologically unforgiving as this one. Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023 Drivers were asked to watch out for patches of black ice and slippery roadways. Rob Shackelford, CNN, 30 Jan. 2023 The freezing rain led to the formation of black ice or an icy glaze on roads, with conditions likely worse on the Anchorage Hillside and along the Seward Highway, Christensen said. Anchorage Daily News, 26 Dec. 2022 The fog could present a danger to motorists Saturday, potentially causing black ice to form on roadways, said Juan Hernandez, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Dallas News, 3 Feb. 2023 The National Weather Service is warning that widespread black ice is possible on roads across the region after a round of light snow on Monday. Leigh Morgan, al, 27 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'black ice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black ice was in 1961

Dictionary Entries Near black ice

Cite this Entry

“Black ice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20ice. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

black ice

noun
: a thin film of ice (as on a road) that is difficult to see
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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