An icicle is a long pointed piece of ice hanging down from a surface. It forms when water comes slowly off the surface, and freezes as it falls.
icicle in British English
(ˈaɪsɪkəl)
noun
a hanging spike of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water
Derived forms
icicled (ˈicicled)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from ice + ickel, from Old English gicel icicle, related to Old Norse jökull large piece of ice, glacier
icicle in American English
(ˈaɪˌsɪkəl; ˈaɪsəkəl)
noun
a tapering, pointed, hanging piece of ice, formed by the freezing of dripping or falling water
Derived forms
icicled (ˈiˌcicled)
adjective
Word origin
ME isikel < OE *īsgicel (akin to ON isjökull) < īs, ice + gicel, piece of ice, icicle (Brit dial. ickle), akin to ON jökull, icicle, glacier, jaki, lump of ice < IE base *yeg-, ice > MIr aig, Welsh iā, ice, Cornish yeyn, cold
Examples of 'icicle' in a sentence
icicle
Hanu-man took an icicle - a cylinder of water frozen around a wooden stick - and he rubbed it up and down over Danlo's back.
Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD (2003)
From the icicle above the porch a steady chain of drips began to fall onto the step.
Erskine, Barbara MIDNIGHT IS A LONELY PLACE (2003)
4 Driven by thirst, I eyed a fine icicle outside the window, within hand's reach.
Joyce Carol Oates THE TATTOOED GIRL (2003)
In other languages
icicle
British English: icicle NOUN
An icicle is a long pointed piece of ice hanging down from a surface.