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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The trail is well maintained, with a steady, moderate climb that takes you through meadows and past fields of wildflowers (glacier lilies, lupine, and forget-me-nots, to name a few) during the summer months. AFAR Media, 7 July 2025 However, glacier tours and boat excursions book out quickly in peak summer months. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 The top-tier Epic Plan is aimed at bucket-list adventures like glacier walking and deep-sea diving. Liz Knueven, CNBC, 27 June 2025 Vaux took on her family’s annual glacier measurements in 1911 and continued them on and off until 1922, after which her work was continued by surveyor Arthur O. Wheeler, who’d helped her with previous glacier surveys. Sarah Boon june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for glacier

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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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