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

Straight from Grandma’s recipe box, these old-fashioned soft drop cookies are topped with rich chocolate frosting. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026

No-Fail Chocolate Frosting This smooth, creamy, chocolate frosting is easy to make, with none of the potential pitfalls of fussy European buttercreams. — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

This opens the door for dips, frostings, sauces, and desserts that have previously been unavailable for lactose-free and -sensitive individuals. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026

Premium doughnuts also come topped with Nutella, matcha or coffee frosting, plus s’more, Oreo and Fruity Pebbles toppings. — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 28 July 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