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sleet Definition

sleet (slēt)

noun

  1. partly frozen rain, or rain that freezes as it falls
  2. transparent or translucent precipitation in the form of pellets of ice that are smaller than 5 mm (.2 in)
  3. the icy coating formed when rain freezes on trees, streets, etc.

Etymology: ME slete < OE *sliete, akin to Ger schlosse, hail < IE base *(s)leu-, loose, lax > slur, slug

intransitive verb

to shower in the form of sleet

sleet Related Forms
sleet′y adjective
sleet Synonyms

sleet

n.

freezing rain, sleet storm, hail, hail storm; see storm 1.

sleet Usage Examples

Object

  • rain: It was a somewhat somber team that collected at Balquidder church at Rob Roy's final resting place in the sleeting rain.

Converse of object

  • drive: Riding in driving sleet is, however, no fun at all.
  • have: But at least we haven't had the sleet and freezing winds we were used to in Neilston, Scotland!
  • bring: To say nothing of the times we brought unseasonal sleet to midsummer Norway and the monsoon to Cheshire.
  • fall: She will not suffer from the wind or cold and falling sleet!
  • include: In the afternoon there were heavier showers including sleet across Anglesey's higher ground around 1410 GMT.

Preposition: on

  • ground: Scotland will be partly cloudy with some isolated showers, which may turn to sleet on high grounds.

Adjective modifier

  • horizontal: There was no horizontal sleet, just lots of sunshine!
  • more: A really dismal day on the 23rd, dull and very cold with more sleet all day.
  • heavy: Socialist Party members were not put off by savage dogs and heavy sleet and snow!
  • slight: Slight sleet and snow during the morning when I went to school.

Modifies a noun

  • shower: There was very limited running on Friday due to the cold conditions combined with intermittent sleet showers.
  • storm: Imagine our delight to step out into a howling sleet storm!

Modifying Another Word

  • then: Today the weather is very cold and squally, occasionally had hail then sleet.

Noun used with modifier

  • blinding: Facing the cold vicious winds the blinding sleet, Walking and stumbling on blistered feet.
  • freezing: This sour month of buckled credit cards and freezing sleet rarely entices the bon viveur beyond his newly pledged thrift threshold.
  • snow: Snow and/or sleet reported on 9 days - previous October highest value 6 days in 1993.