A glacier is an extremely large mass of ice which moves very slowly, often down a mountain valley.
glacier in British English
(ˈɡlæsɪə, ˈɡleɪs-)
noun
a slowly moving mass of ice originating from an accumulation of snow. It can either spread out from a central mass (continental glacier) or descend from a high valley (alpine glacier)
Word origin
C18: from French (Savoy dialect), from Old French glace ice, from Late Latin glacia, from Latin glaciēs ice
glacier in American English
(ˈgleɪʃər; Chiefly British ˈgleɪsiər)
noun
a large mass of ice and snow that forms in areas where the rate of snowfall constantly exceeds the rate at which the snow melts: it moves slowly outward from the center of accumulation or down a mountain until it melts or breaks away
Word origin
Fr (orig., Savoy dial. > also Ger gletscher) < VL *glaciarium < glacia, for L glacies, ice: see glacial
His plot moves at the pace of a glacier descending a mountain.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The way melt is controlled is by the removal of snow cover to expose glacier ice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
See these amazing glaciers at the link below.
The Sun (2008)
But will they see glaciers melting and oceans rising?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The rest is locked up in glaciers and polar ice caps.
The Sun (2009)
But some melting of the glaciers is certain.
Radford, Tim & Leggett, Jeremy The Crisis of Life on Earth - our legacy from the second millenium (1990)
Such a rise in temperatures could melt ice sheets and glaciers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What was not obvious was why the glacier had been melting in the middle of a mini ice age.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When they should have been advancing, the large glaciers receded by an average of a kilometre.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
These resorts use glaciers as ski runs, giving them a long ski season.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The mountains, glaciers and hot springs?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Which is the best glacier to see in Argentina?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is one better way of seeing a glacier: walking on it.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Arctic sea ice, glaciers and winter snow cover in the northern hemisphere was in decline.
The Sun (2010)
I really want to see that glacier.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
With the ice cap melting and glaciers shrinking, the future of the human race is not looking good.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is good evidence of a large volcanic eruption that year from sulphur deposits in ice from Greenland glaciers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Ice caps and glaciers are expected to continue their retreat and Australia in particular is expected to feel the heat.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As he records a link about the movement of glaciers, the ice cracks loudly at just the right moment.
The Sun (2011)
It takes a long time to build and melt an ice sheet, but glaciers can react quickly to temperature changes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Anyone seen my glacier mint?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Seeing glaciers, icebergs and historic settlements was the point, not dressing up for dinner and partying.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The mercury is rising, the glaciers are melting and the hurricanes are hurtling towards the Americas with increasing ferocity.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Your cruise is an amazing voyage of discovery through glaciers, mountains and lively towns, making this whole tour a totally unforgettable journey.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If people want to spend the night on a glacier or climb mountain paths made over the centuries, that is up to them '.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
glacier
British English: glacier /ˈɡlæsɪə; ˈɡleɪs-/ NOUN
A glacier is a huge mass of ice which moves very slowly, often down a mountain.
American English: glacier
Arabic: نَهْرٌ جَليدِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: geleira
Chinese: 冰河
Croatian: ledenjak
Czech: ledovec horský
Danish: gletscher
Dutch: gletsjer
European Spanish: glaciar
Finnish: jäätikkö
French: glacier
German: Gletscher
Greek: παγετώνας
Italian: ghiacciaio
Japanese: 氷河
Korean: 빙하
Norwegian: isbre
Polish: lodowiec
European Portuguese: glaciar
Romanian: ghețar
Russian: ледник
Latin American Spanish: glaciar
Swedish: glaciär
Thai: ธารน้ำแข็ง
Turkish: buzul
Ukrainian: льодовик
Vietnamese: khối băng trôi
All related terms of 'glacier'
glacier cream
a barrier cream , esp against ultraviolet radiation, used when climbing above the snow line
glacier milk
water flowing in a stream from the snout of a glacier and containing particles of rock
glacier table
a rock sitting on a pillar of ice on top of a glacier , as a result of the ice immediately beneath the rock being protected from the heat of the sun and not melting
Muir Glacier
a glacier in SE Alaska , in the St Elias Mountains, flowing southeast from Mount Fairweather . Area: about 900 sq km (350 sq miles)
alpine glacier
a glacier that descends from a high valley
hanging glacier
a glacier situated on a shelf above a valley or another glacier; it may be joined to the lower level by an icefall or separate from it
