red snow

noun

: snow colored by various airborne dusts or by a growth of algae (as of the genus Chlamydomonas) that contain red pigment and live in the upper layer of snow
also : an alga causing red snow

Examples of red snow 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.
Meanwhile, Consuelos endured the cold in a red snow jacket and ski pants. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 In the Arctic, the pigmented snow algae can decrease the snow albedo by 13% in just one snow season, according to a study published in Nature in 2016 that looked at 40 red snow sites in 16 areas. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 26 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red snow was in 1678

Dictionary Entries Near red snow

Cite this Entry

“Red snow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20snow. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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