often attributive
1
a
: frozen water
b
: a sheet or stretch of frozen water
c
: cubes or pieces of frozen water
Fill the glass with ice.
2
: a substance resembling ice
especially
: the solid state of a substance usually found as a gas or liquid
ammonia ice in the rings of Saturn
3
: a state of coldness (as from formality or reserve)
4
a
: a frozen dessert containing a flavoring (such as fruit juice)
especially
: one containing no milk or cream
b
British
: a serving of ice cream
6
: an undercover premium paid to a theater employee for choice theater tickets
7
see also:
iced; icing
1
a
: to coat with or convert into ice
b
: to chill with ice
c
: to supply with ice
2
: to cover with or as if with icing
3
: to put on ice
4
: secure sense 1b
… made two free throws … to ice the win.—Jack McCallum
5
: to shoot (an ice hockey puck) the length of the rink and beyond the opponents' goal line
6
slang
: kill sense 1a
1
: to become ice-cold
2
a
: to become covered with ice
—often used with up or over
b
: to have ice form inside
əs
: act
service
: quality
justice
: condition
cowardice
Iceland
1
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
In March 2003, the Homeland Security Act set into motion what would be the single-largest government reorganization since the creation of the Department of Defense. One of the agencies in the new Department of Homeland Security was the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, now known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE.—www.ice.gov/history
2
in case of emergency
Enter an ICE (in case of emergency) listing in the address book of your cell phone. Place the ICE acronym next to a person who can assist emergency workers if any important medical decisions need to be made.—Andrew Weil
3
internal combustion engine
4
International Cultural Exchange
Cite this Entry
“Ice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ice. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.
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