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
: 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
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025
The investigation found a similar hydraulic icing problem in another F-35 at the same base during a flight nine days after the crash, but that aircraft was able to land without incident.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
To make the icing, in a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2025
Shortly after Air France Flight 447 left Rio De Janeiro for Paris, the plane’s airspeed sensors froze over—a relatively routine, transitory instrument loss due to high-altitude icing.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for icing
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Noun
This cake can be finished simply with a dusting of powdered sugar, or with a glossy caramel glaze or brown sugar icing, but can also be served simply with a dusting of powdered sugar.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025
The investigation found a similar hydraulic icing problem in another F-35 at the same base during a flight nine days after the crash, but that aircraft was able to land without incident.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
To make the icing, in a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2025
Shortly after Air France Flight 447 left Rio De Janeiro for Paris, the plane’s airspeed sensors froze over—a relatively routine, transitory instrument loss due to high-altitude icing.
—David Autor, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for icing
Cite this Entry
“Icing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/icing. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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