icing

1 of 2

noun (1)

ic·​ing ˈī-siŋ 

1

: a sweet flavored usually creamy mixture used to coat baked goods (such as cupcakes)

called also frosting

2

: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event

—often used in the phrase icing on the cake

icing

2 of 2

noun (2)

: an illegal act by an ice hockey player of shooting a puck from within the defensive zone or defensive half of the rink beyond the opponents' goal line but not into the goal

Examples of icing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Solid port selection, including USB-C, is just the icing on the cake. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 May 2025

The cake pop features strawberry cream cake mixed with buttercream, dipped in a chocolatey icing and finished with a summer strawberry design. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 20 May 2025

But Lamia and Saeed’s future doesn’t come with any colorful icing on top. —Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 May 2025

Frostings and icings: Invert sugar improves silkiness and smoothness in fudges, fondant, icings, frostings, and ganache. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 8 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1948, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing icing

• anti-icing
• icing on the cake
• icing sugar
• royal icing

Rhymes for icing

• deicing
• dicing
• pricing
• slicing
• splicing
• enticing
• sufficing
• sacrificing
• satisficing

Kids Definition

icing

1 of 2 noun

ic·​ing ˈī-siŋ 

1

: a sweet coating for baked goods (as cakes)

called also frosting

2

: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event

—often used in the phrase icing on the cake

icing

2 of 2 noun

: the shooting of a hockey puck the length of the rink and beyond the opponent's goal line