Definition of glacial
1 : suggestive of ice: such asa : extremely cold : frigid a glacial windb : devoid of warmth and cordiality a glacial handshakec : coldly imperturbable maintained a glacial calm
2 : of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals glacial acetic acid
3a (1) : of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present (2) capitalized : pleistoceneb : of, relating to, or produced by glaciersc : suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers progress on the bill has been glacial
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Examples of glacial in a sentence
Progress on the bill has been glacial.
a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend
Origin and Etymology of glacial
Latin glacialis, from glacies
First Known Use: 1656
GLACIAL Defined for English Language Learners
glacial
playDefinition of glacial for English Language Learners
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: of or relating to glaciers : produced or caused by glaciers
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: very cold
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: very slow
GLACIAL Defined for Kids
glacial
playDefinition of glacial for Students
1 : of or relating to glaciers glacial ice
2 : very cold
3 : very slow a glacial pace
Learn More about glacial
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See words that rhyme with glacial Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for glacial Spanish Central: Translation of glacial Nglish: Translation of glacial for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of glacial for Arabic speakers
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