glacier

[gley-sher] /ˈgleɪ ʃər/
noun
1.
an extended mass of ice formed from snow falling and accumulating over the years and moving very slowly, either descending from high mountains, as in valley glaciers, or moving outward from centers of accumulation, as in continental glaciers.
Origin
1735-45; < dialectal French, derivative of Old French glace ice < Late Latin glacia (for Latin glaciēs)
Related forms
glaciered, adjective
Examples from the web for glacier
  • New species evolve when some geographic barrier-a mountain range, an ocean, a glacier-divides a population.
  • The scientists also measure how fast the glacier is traveling.
  • They penetrated a 50-foot layer of fresh snow to lay bare the real skin of the glacier.
  • When the growth of a glacier can be compared to its rate of dissipation, it may be possible to forecast a glacier's future.
  • It's moving at the speed of a glacier, but it's moving.
  • Inefficient central power generation is protected by a glacier of artificial barriers.
  • The glacier remained in this position until around 1930 before retreating further to its present- day position.
  • The hot volcanic gas and ash melted the glacier and mixed with the meltwater.
  • London, England, used to have a glacier.
  • Impenetrable to the view as the deep blue of a glacier.
British Dictionary definitions for glacier

glacier

/ˈɡlæsɪə; ˈɡleɪs-/
noun
1.
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
Word Origin and History for glacier
n.

1744, from French glacier, from Savoy dialect glacière "moving mass of ice," from Old French glace "ice," from Vulgar Latin glacia (cf. Old Provençal glassa, Italian ghiaccia), from Latin glacies (see glacial).

glacier in Science
glacier
  (glā'shər)   
A large mass of ice moving very slowly through a valley or spreading outward from a center. Glaciers form over many years from packed snow in areas where snow accumulates faster than it melts. A glacier is always moving, but when its forward edge melts faster than the ice behind it advances, the glacier as a whole shrinks backward.
glacier in Culture

glacier definition


A large mass of ice formed over many years that does not melt during the summer. Glaciers move slowly over an area of land such as a mountain valley.

Note: Glaciers exist in high mountains throughout the temperate zones and cover most of Antarctica. Glaciers recede during warm periods and can expand during cold periods, creating ice ages.
Note: A significant percentage of the water of the Earth is locked up in glaciers.