ice shelf
noun
: shelf ice
In 2002, a Rhode Island-size section of an ice shelf crumbled into the sea.—
Joe McGowan
Joe McGowanExamples of ice shelf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Field testing of these prototypes will take place in 2026 under the Antarctic ice shelf.
—science.org, 19 Sep. 2024
The Digital Twin Antarctica focuses on ice shelf dynamics and meltwater tracking.
—Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
Scientists are particularly keen to understand what’s happening to Antarctica’s ice shelves, huge slabs of floating ice which jut out into the ocean and are an important defense against sea level rise, acting as a cork to hold back glaciers on land.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024
That change in the winds pushes cold surface waters away from the continent, allowing warmer, deeper water to be pulled under the glaciers’ ice shelves.
—Bychristian Elliott, science.org, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ice shelf 
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.
science.org, 19 Sep. 2024
The Digital Twin Antarctica focuses on ice shelf dynamics and meltwater tracking.
—Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
Scientists are particularly keen to understand what’s happening to Antarctica’s ice shelves, huge slabs of floating ice which jut out into the ocean and are an important defense against sea level rise, acting as a cork to hold back glaciers on land.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 3 Sep. 2024
That change in the winds pushes cold surface waters away from the continent, allowing warmer, deeper water to be pulled under the glaciers’ ice shelves.
—Bychristian Elliott, science.org, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ice shelf
Dictionary Entries Near ice shelf
Cite this Entry
“Ice shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ice%20shelf. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share