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.
Authorities have also warned of potential further collapse around the glacier on Langtang Lirung mountain in Nepal, which cracked and broke off, triggering the August 26 landslide and flooding. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 Both Florida and Denmark are facing rising sea levels due a warmer global climate, which causes glaciers to melt and seawater to expand. — Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026 By then the glacier would have received a fresh coating of snow, the sea temperature would be falling again and the residents of Svalbard would be readying themselves for the long polar night. — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 This glacier is thousands of years old, our driver explains, formed from layer after layer of snow compressing into ice. — Uma Raja, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026 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

glaciation
glacier
Glacier Bay
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glacier

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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