ice shelf

noun

: shelf ice
In 2002, a Rhode Island-size section of an ice shelf crumbled into the sea.Joe McGowan

Examples of ice shelf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Field testing of these prototypes will take place in 2026 under the Antarctic ice shelf. science.org, 19 Sep. 2024 The Digital Twin Antarctica focuses on ice shelf dynamics and meltwater tracking. Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 Scientists are particularly keen to understand what’s happening to Antarctica’s ice shelves, huge slabs of floating ice which jut out into the ocean and are an important defense against sea level rise, acting as a cork to hold back glaciers on land. Laura Paddison, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024 That change in the winds pushes cold surface waters away from the continent, allowing warmer, deeper water to be pulled under the glaciers’ ice shelves. Bychristian Elliott, science.org, 18 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ice shelf 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ice shelf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ice shelf was in 1869

Dictionary Entries Near ice shelf

Cite this Entry

“Ice shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ice%20shelf. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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