snow

1 of 2

noun

ˈsnō 

often attributive

1

a

: precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air at a temperature of less than 32°F (0°C)

b(1)

: a descent or shower of snow crystals

(2)

: a mass of fallen snow crystals

2

: something resembling snow: such as

a

: a dessert made of stiffly beaten whites of eggs, sugar, and fruit pulp

apple snow

b

: a usually white crystalline substance that condenses from a fluid phase as snow does

ammonia snow

c slang

(1)

: cocaine

(2)

: heroin

d

: small transient light or dark spots on a television screen

snowless

ˈsnō-ləs 

adjective

snow

2 of 2

verb

snowed; snowing; snows

intransitive verb

: to fall in or as snow

transitive verb

1

: to cause to fall like or as snow

2

a

: to cover, shut in, or imprison with or as if with snow

b

: to deceive, persuade, or charm glibly

3

: to whiten like snow

Synonyms

Verb

• bamboozle
• beguile
• bluff
• buffalo
• burn
• catch
• con
• cozen
• deceive
• delude
• dupe
• fake out
• fool
• gaff
• gammon
• gull
• have
• have on [chiefly British]
• hoax
• hoodwink
• hornswoggle
• humbug
• juggle
• misguide
• misinform
• mislead
• snooker
• spoof
• string along
• suck in
• sucker
• take in
• trick

Examples of snow in a Sentence

Noun

Snow fell softly on the town.

The mountains were blanketed with snow.

She took a walk in the snow.

We haven't had much snow this year.

She went out to shovel the snow.

Soon the warm spring sun will melt the winter snows.

the snows of the Rocky Mountains

A light snow was falling.

Verb

easily snowed by her glib talk

the years had snowed his hair to a silvery white, making it difficult at first to recognize her old high school crush

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the mountains, the system arriving Wednesday was expected to bring 2-4 inches of snow above 5,500 feet west of state Highway 395 and 1-4 inches of snow on the west side of Lake Tahoe, according to the weather service. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

In the Denver area, communities received anywhere from a few inches to more than a foot and a half of snow. —Max Levy, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024

Verb

That is, the snowdrifts are up to my waist, and it’s been snowing all weekend. —Alexei Navalny, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024

Throughout our April voyage, heavenly cherry blossoms bloomed and snowed pale-pink petals upon us. —Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English snāw; akin to Old High German snēo snow, Latin niv-, nix, Greek nipha (accusative)

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing snow

• acid snow
• (as) pure as the driven snow
• corn snow
• glory-of-the-snow
• heavy snow
• light snow
• red snow
• snow angel
• snow-blinded
• snow blindness
• snow bunting
• snow cone
• snow crab
• snow day
• snow fence
• snow globe
• snow goose
• snow-in-summer
• snow job
• snow leopard
• snow line
• snow-on-the-mountain
• snow pants
• snow pea
• snow plant
• snow pudding
• snow squall
• snow thrower
• snow tire
• snow tube
• snow tubers
• snow under
• snow-white

Kids Definition

snow

1 of 2 noun

ˈsnō 

1

a

: small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air

b

: a fall of snow crystals : a mass of snow crystals that have fallen to earth

2

: something resembling snow: as

a

: a dessert made of stiffly beaten egg whites, sugar, and fruit

pineapple snow

b

slang : cocaine

snow

2 of 2 verb

1

: to fall or cause to fall in or as snow

it had been snowing all day

2

: to cover, shut in, or imprison with or as if with snow

we were snowed in for two days

the desk was snowed under by papers

3

: to deceive, persuade, or charm with insincere or flattering talk

couldn't snow her with his compliments

Medical Definition

snow

noun

ˈsnō 

1

: any of various congealed or crystallized substances resembling snow in appearance

carbon dioxide snow

2

slang

a

: cocaine

b

: heroin

Biographical Definition

Snow

biographical name

ˈsnō 

C(harles) P(ercy) 1905–1980 Baron Snow English novelist and physicist