ices

Noun

ice (usually uncountable, plural ices)

1. (usually) Water in frozen (solid) form.
   • He said, “Where we’re at right now was back in 2008 all covered with ice. From here to there at the side, the glacier shrank about 20 to 30 meters.”
2. (usually) Any frozen volatile chemical, such as ammonia or carbon dioxide.
3. (usually) Any volatile chemical, such as water, ammonia, or carbon dioxide, not necessarily in solid form, when discussing the composition of e.g. a planet as an ice giant vs a gas giant.
   • Above the core is the lower-density liquid mantle composed of ice materials under high pressure and temperature. This massive liquid layer would not be separated into layers of traditional ice compounds, but mixtures of radically different compounds originally consisting of water, carbon dioxide...2010 March 15, Lance K. Erickson, Space Flight: History, Technology, and Operations, Government Institutes, →ISBN, page 145
4. (figuratively, usually) Something having an extreme coldness of manner.
   • a heart of ice
5. (figuratively, usually) Something, such as awkwardness, that prevents open social interaction.
   • The dialogues—or "raps"—usually take place on a monthly or bi-monthly basis and aim at fostering contacts hand at breaking through stereotypical notions held by both sides. "There's no question that there's ice to begin with," said Lance Bradley, who conducts the raps for Chelsea's Tenth Precinct.1982 February 6, Bob Nelson, “'Rocky Relations' in New York Getting Smoother”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 28, page 3
6. (usually) The area where a game of ice hockey is played.
   • The neighbouring countries have enjoyed many great battles on the ice. They last met for gold at the 1998 world championship, won by Sweden. Three years earlier, Finland bested Sweden for the only world title in its history.2006, CBC, Finland, Sweden 'the dream final', February 26 2002

See all 29 meanings of ice