glacier

noun

gla·​cier ˈglā-shər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
also
-zhər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
 especially British  ˈgla-sē-ə,
 or  ˈglā-sē-ə
: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface

Examples of glacier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yosemite Roulette The hike to the peak should have been relatively straightforward, following a historical route up a glacier. Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 8 Nov. 2024 During the last Ice Age, Indiana was covered by a glacier that left soft soil as the earth warmed and the icy mass retreated, Li said. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Oct. 2024 Global warming leads to direct climate change effects such as Arctic ice melting and glaciers retreating. Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 The debris flows formed from volcanic debris melting part of a glacier ended up damming the Chakachatna River, briefly creating a new lake along the river valley. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for glacier 

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal), from glace ice, from Latin glacies; akin to Latin gelu frost — more at cold

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glacier was in 1744

Dictionary Entries Near glacier

Cite this Entry

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

glacier

noun
gla·​cier ˈglā-shər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface

More from Merriam-Webster on glacier

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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