icing

1 of 2

noun (1)

ic·​ing ˈī-siŋ 

1

: a sweet flavored usually creamy mixture used to coat baked goods (such as cupcakes)

called also frosting

2

: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event

—often used in the phrase icing on the cake

icing

2 of 2

noun (2)

: an illegal act by an ice hockey player of shooting a puck from within the defensive zone or defensive half of the rink beyond the opponents' goal line but not into the goal

Examples of icing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Anadolu | Getty Images Color Kitchen said its Easter items represent 20% of the company’s total stock of items and outpace sales of all other items, including its Christmas icing kits. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025

Because of the icing, assistant coach David Quinn couldn’t substitute Slavin and Faber for Adam Fox and Noah Hanifin. —Michael Russo, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

The cake adorably featured a print doodled by the athlete's 6-year-old daughter Jada that was printed on the icing. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025

The storm began in the Plains before moving eastward, with the Appalachian Mountains experiencing significant icing. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1948, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing icing

• anti-icing
• icing on the cake
• icing sugar
• royal icing

Rhymes for icing

• deicing
• dicing
• pricing
• slicing
• splicing
• enticing
• sufficing
• sacrificing
• satisficing

Kids Definition

icing

1 of 2 noun

ic·​ing ˈī-siŋ 

1

: a sweet coating for baked goods (as cakes)

called also frosting

2

: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event

—often used in the phrase icing on the cake

icing

2 of 2 noun

: the shooting of a hockey puck the length of the rink and beyond the opponent's goal line