iceberg

noun

ice·​berg ˈīs-ˌbərg How to pronounce iceberg (audio)
1
: a large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier
2
: an emotionally cold person
3

Examples of iceberg in a Sentence

a brilliant doctor, no doubt, but both patients and staff complain that he is an iceberg
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.
Melting icebergs crowd the Ilulissat Icefjord near Ilulissat, Greenland, on July 16. Evan Bush, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 For spectacular phenomena at the other end of the temperature scale, majestic icebergs, many of them formed by glaciers some tens of million of years ago, are one of Antarctica’s biggest attractions. Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024 Cruise to Greenland’s breathtaking Scoresby Sund, one of the world’s largest fjord systems, and explore its towering icebergs, ancient Inuit villages and wildlife-rich tundra. Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Bound and Shears, nerves shredded, have gone on a head-clearing walk to a towering iceberg a mile away from the ship, only to be called urgently back to the bridge. Sean Kingsley, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for iceberg 

Word History

Etymology

probably partial translation of Danish or Norwegian isberg, from is ice + berg mountain

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of iceberg was in 1784

Dictionary Entries Near iceberg

Cite this Entry

“Iceberg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iceberg. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

iceberg

noun
ice·​berg ˈīs-ˌbərg How to pronounce iceberg (audio)
: a large floating mass of ice detached from a glacier

More from Merriam-Webster on iceberg

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!