1
: floating ice formed in a large sheet on the surface of a body of water
2
: ice floe
Examples of floe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This was a tributary version of the break-up and floe of ice that historically has happened in all the Great Lakes.
—
Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2023
Trackers placed close to one another on floes in the Barents Sea rapidly diverge in position.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Mar. 2023
Although their floe broke up before the 12-month goal, Rex says the expedition has been a great success.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2020
Lasse Rabenstein, the expedition’s chief scientist, and other sea-ice experts on board would have to choose a floe that can safely support the crew and equipment.
—New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022
On November 14, a storm arrived, and the men scrambled to find a secure floe.
—Adventure, 23 Dec. 2020
As part of the expedition, the Polarstern anchored to a large floe last fall and set up a camp on the ice, creating a small scientific village protected from wandering polar bears by alarms and scouts.
—Frank Jordans, Star Tribune, 12 Oct. 2020
And today it is filled with young floes of churning nitrogen ice.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2020
In mid-November, a violent storm opened up a new crack between the Polarstern and its floe, knocking over a 100-foot meteorological tower and threatening to snap power cables.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2020
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Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2023
Trackers placed close to one another on floes in the Barents Sea rapidly diverge in position.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Mar. 2023
Although their floe broke up before the 12-month goal, Rex says the expedition has been a great success.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2020
Lasse Rabenstein, the expedition’s chief scientist, and other sea-ice experts on board would have to choose a floe that can safely support the crew and equipment.
—New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022
On November 14, a storm arrived, and the men scrambled to find a secure floe.
—Adventure, 23 Dec. 2020
As part of the expedition, the Polarstern anchored to a large floe last fall and set up a camp on the ice, creating a small scientific village protected from wandering polar bears by alarms and scouts.
—Frank Jordans, Star Tribune, 12 Oct. 2020
And today it is filled with young floes of churning nitrogen ice.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2020
In mid-November, a violent storm opened up a new crack between the Polarstern and its floe, knocking over a 100-foot meteorological tower and threatening to snap power cables.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'floe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
probably from Norwegian flo flat layer
First Known Use
1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing floe
Dictionary Entries Near floe
Cite this Entry
“Floe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floe. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
floe
noun
: a sheet or mass of floating ice
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