iceberg

noun

ice·​berg ˈīs-ˌbərg 

1

: a large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier

2

: an emotionally cold person

3

: iceberg lettuce

Synonyms of iceberg

• clam
• icicle
• stick

Examples of iceberg in a Sentence

a brilliant doctor, no doubt, but both patients and staff complain that he is an iceberg

Recent Examples on the Web

The diarrhea stories are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. —Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026

Eastern Greenland’s Scoresby Sound—a place of Arctic wilderness, icebergs and relatively stable skies— will see expedition cruise ships packed with eclipse chasers on expedition cruise ships. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

At the time, the state geologist of Massachusetts and the American science establishment were incorrectly attributing the same landscape to an iceberg-laden catastrophic flood. —Robert M. Thorson, The Conversation, 8 May 2026

But those figures are likely the tip of the proverbial iceberg. —Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably partial translation of Danish or Norwegian isberg, from is ice + berg mountain

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing iceberg

• iceberg lettuce
• the tip of the iceberg
• tip of the iceberg

Kids Definition

iceberg

noun

ice·​berg ˈīs-ˌbərg 

: a large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier