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

The icing on Winter Park’s repeat Class 7A state championship season was Mancino receiving the Miss Volleyball state player of the year award alongside Gibson, who was named Florida coach of the year for the sixth time and second in a row. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026

The former is an Original Glazed doughnut dipped in caramel icing and drizzled with a salty caramel dulce. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026

But in the new paradigm, that once-core office business may simply be the icing on the cake for Farmer’s Fridge. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026

The Winner Editors who participated in our taste test were surprised to discover how much grocery store bakery cakes truly varied—some had light and airy icing where others had rich buttercream, for example. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026

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