glacier

noun

gla·​cier ˈglā-shər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
also
-zhər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
 especially British  ˈgla-sē-ə,
 or  ˈglā-sē-ə
: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface

Examples of glacier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That engine fashioned Pluto’s rich tapestry of flowing glaciers, jagged mountains and other unfamiliar terrestrial features on the surface. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024 There are lakes and glaciers in the mountains, and camping, hiking, and other activities are available in spectacular Medicine Bow National Forest. Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 Switzerland's glaciers have shed 2.4% of their volume over the past year. David Hodari, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024 Its island neighbor, Iceland, gets most of the attention, and not everyone knows that both countries have similarly stunning landscapes, massive glaciers and, during certain times of the year, near-nightly views of the northern lights. Catherine Garcia, The Week Us, theweek, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for glacier 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glacier.' 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

French, from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal), from glace ice, from Latin glacies; akin to Latin gelu frost — more at cold

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glacier was in 1744

Dictionary Entries Near glacier

Cite this Entry

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

glacier

noun
gla·​cier ˈglā-shər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface

More from Merriam-Webster on glacier

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