icicle

noun

ici·​cle ˈī-ˌsi-kəl 

1

: a pendent mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water

2

: an emotionally cold person

3

: a long narrow strip (as of foil) used to decorate a Christmas tree

Did you know?

Old English gicel, meaning icicle, became Middle English ikyl or ikel and later modern English ickle, which survives as a dialect word in Yorkshire, England. The word for ice in Old English is is, and in a manuscript of about the year 1000 we find Latin stiria, “icicle,” glossed, somewhat redundantly, as ises gicel, that is, “an icicle of ice.” Some 300 years later, in Middle English, this became the compound known today as icicle, which means precisely what it did 1000 years ago.

Synonyms

• cold fish
• cold turkey
• iceberg

Example Sentences

his wife is such an icicle you're lucky to get so much as a greeting from her

Recent Examples on the Web

The apparatus turned about once every four minutes, ensuring that conditions were the same all around the icicle. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2015

The scientists grew 237 icicles on an icicle growing machine with a slowly rotating dripper nozzle. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2015

Looking for a unique alternative to the traditional icicle string lights? —Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, 14 Dec. 2022

Lights on the Christmas tree are classic, of course, and for many the holidays can’t really begin until a stressful afternoon has been passed nailing up the icicle lights. —Sunset Magazine, 10 Dec. 2022

Yes The varying lengths of these icicle lights give a realistic effect that will make your home look like a winter wonderland even if there's no snow on the horizon. —Katie Begley, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2022

These icicle lights offer both warm and cool white options, and come with a remote for easily switching up your display. —Popular Mechanics, 17 Nov. 2022

There are 60 icicle drops on the 29.5-foot strand, with 360 lights in total. —Katie Begley, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2022

There are 360 LEDs on the 29.5-foot strand with 60 icicle drops, along with four brightness levels, nine lighting modes, and a memory function that automatically switches lights on to the previous mode. —Popular Mechanics, 17 Nov. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English isikel, from is ice + ikel icicle, from Old English gicel; akin to Old High German ihilla icicle, Middle Irish aig ice

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

icicle

noun

ici·​cle ˈī-ˌsik-əl 

: a hanging mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water