glacier

noun

gla·​cier ˈglā-shər 

also

-zhər 

 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

By nature an Arctic species, Oeneis melissa, or the Melissa Arctic, was widespread during the wintry centuries that followed the retreat of the last glaciers. —Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

Alaska is known for its breathtaking glaciers and ice fields, and there are several ways to experience them in Tongass National Forest. —Sharael Kolberg, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2025

Beyond the meal, the exclusive Canada High Arctic journey winds through the icy channels of the Northwest Passage, with stops in vibrant Inuit villages, Zodiac cruises past towering glaciers, and encounters with wildlife such as whales and walruses. —Renée Morrison, AFAR Media, 5 June 2025

Mount Rainier National Park via Seattle, WA (SEA) Mount Rainier National Park dazzles travelers with wildflower meadows and glacier views in the summer. —Joni Sweet, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

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

Kids Definition

glacier

noun

gla·​cier ˈglā-shər 

: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface