ice cap

noun

1

: a cover of perennial ice and snow

specifically : a glacier forming on an extensive area of relatively level land and flowing outward from its center

2

: an ice bag shaped to the head

Examples of ice cap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ocean temperatures already are elevated because of a combination of the strengthening El Niño, weather patterns and long-term global warming, melting polar ice caps, pushing tide lines higher and providing extra energy to storms. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

But part of Nepal’s plea for more global aid stems from concerns that extreme flooding will become more common as climbing temperatures melt ice caps in the Himalayas. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

At closest approach the planet swells in apparent size, revealing dark surface markings, polar ice caps and occasional dust storms. — Damian Peach, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Dinosaur fossils are rare to find in Antarctica because of the unforgiving ice caps. — CBS News, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for ice cap

• handicap
• overlap
• thunderclap
• wiretap
• app
• chap
• clap
• crap
• flap
• frap
• gap
• hap

Kids Definition

ice cap

noun

: a large glacier forming on level land and flowing outward from its center