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.
Although there was no urgency this time—the men at the summit had already perished—Vin left her in a leaky tent on the glacier at the base camp, alone, with only the wind and heavy snow for company. — Maya Silver, Outside Online, 16 Mar. 2025 White boulders shape-shifted in the twilight, and the sound of a calving glacier ricocheted like a gunshot between the mountains. — Chloe Berge, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025 On a cruise to Alaska, my husband, my 24-year-old daughter and I decided to splurge for a helicopter ride to see a glacier. — Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025 Huge boulders — referred to as glacial erratics that were carried by glaciers during the last Ice Age — dot the landscape that’s forested with red maple, spruce and Canadian hemlock. — Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

glaciate
glacier
Glacier Bay
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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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

Nglish: Translation of glacier for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glacier

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