Definition of permafrost
: a permanently frozen layer at variable depth below the surface in frigid regions of a planet (such as earth)
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Recent Examples of permafrost from the Web
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Cool, dry permafrost can preserve prehistoric DNA like a natural freezer, but Egypt is a gene incinerator.
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To be fair, many Russian oil fields are in the far north, where wells are burrowed under permafrost and will freeze if production halts; the industry cannot easily cut output without permanently damaging its wells.
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But the supports for the pipeline are anchored in permafrost, which is now melting.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'permafrost'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of permafrost
permanent + frost
First Known Use: 1943
PERMAFROST Defined for English Language Learners
permafrost
playDefinition of permafrost for English Language Learners
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: a layer of soil that is always frozen in very cold regions of the world
Learn More about permafrost
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See words that rhyme with permafrost Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about permafrost
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