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.
The melting of glaciers and ice caps due to climate change, resulting in a mass shift from the poles to the equator, is expected to amplify this effect further, as a study published in the journal Science Advances suggested as early as 2016. David Bressan, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 But an even greater danger justifies the glacier’s chilling nickname. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2025 When glaciers melt, sea levels rise, avalanches and landslides are more likely to occur, and long-term freshwater access is thrown into question. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2025 Did Bischoff’s bravura storytelling end up breaking off another chunk of consensus reality, like ice from a melting glacier? James Parker, The Atlantic, 6 July 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

Cite this Entry

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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

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