glacial Hear it!

glacial definition

gla·cial (glā′s̸həl; chiefly Brit, -sē əl)

adjective

  1. of or like ice or glaciers
  2. of or produced by a glacier or a glacial epoch or period
  3. freezing; frigid glacial weather
  4. cold and unfriendly a glacial stare
  5. as slow as the movement of a glacier glacial progress
  6. Chem. having an icelike, crystalline appearance

Etymology: L glacialis, icy, frozen < glacies, ice < IE *glag-, partial redupl. of base *gel-, to freeze > cold

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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