glacial

Etymology

From French glacial, from Latin glaciālis, from glaciēs (“ice”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡleɪ.ʃ(ɪ)əl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃəl

Adjective

glacial (comparative more glacial, superlative most glacial)

1. of, or relating to glaciers

   We examined the glacial deposits.

2. (figuratively) very slow
   • 2010, "Under the volcano", The Economist, 16 Oct 2010:

     Progress on judicial reform has been glacial, meeting enormous resistance.

3. cold and icy

   After the rain and frost, the pavements were glacial.

4. having the appearance of ice

   On cold days, glacial acetic acid will freeze in the bottle.

5. cool and unfriendly

   He gave me a glacial stare.

Noun

glacial (plural glacials)

1. A glacial period (colloquially known as an ice age).

Related terms

• glacial till

Anagrams

• gallica

Adjective

glacial (masculine and feminine plural glacials)

1. glacial

Adjective

glacial (feminine singular glaciale, masculine plural glaciaux, feminine plural glaciales)

1. glacial (all meanings)

Further reading

• “glacial” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Adjective

glacial m, f (plural glaciais)

1. frozen, at the temperature of ice
2. glacial, pertaining to glaciers
3. (figuratively) frigid, chilly, not cordial

Etymology

From Latin glaciālis, from glaciēs (“ice”).

Adjective

glacial m

1. (Jersey) icy

Adjective

glacial m, f (plural glaciais, comparable)

1. glacial (cold and icy)
2. glacial (relating to glaciers)
3. relating to ice ages
4. (figuratively) glacial; cold (emotionally distant)

Adjective

glacial (plural glaciales)

1. glacial
2. (figuratively) frigid, chilly, not cordial