GLACIAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does glacial mean? 

• GLACIAL (adjective)
  The adjective GLACIAL has 3 senses:

1. relating to or derived from a glacier

2. devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

3. extremely cold

  Familiarity information: GLACIAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GLACIAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or derived from a glacier

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

glacial deposit

Pertainym:

glacier (a slowly moving mass of ice)

Derivation:

glaciation (the process of covering the earth with glaciers or masses of ice)

glaciation (the condition of being covered with glaciers or masses of ice; the result of glacial action)

glacier (a slowly moving mass of ice)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

Synonyms:

frigid; frosty; frozen; glacial; icy; wintry

Context example:

wintry smile

Similar:

cold (extended meanings; especially of psychological coldness; without human warmth or emotion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Extremely cold

Synonyms:

arctic; frigid; gelid; glacial; icy; polar

Context example:

polar weather

Similar:

cold (having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration)

 Context examples 

Without an atmosphere, it has an equilibrium temperature of -64 F (-53 C), which would make the planet seem more glacial than habitable.

(Confirmation of Toasty TESS Planet Leads to Surprising Find of Promising World, NASA)

Schmittner and his colleagues estimate that colder ocean temperatures would account for about half the decrease in CO2 during the last glacial maximum — or peak of the last ice age.

(Why atmospheric carbon dioxide was lower during ice ages, National Science Foundation)

Scientists need to understand what is regulating the glaciers' flow speeds to project how glacial meltwater will contribute to the region's water resources and to sea level rise.

(NASA Finds Asian Glaciers Slowed by Ice Loss, NASA)

In 2002, however, the Dry Valleys experienced an abnormally warm and sunny summer season, triggering the greatest amount of glacial meltwater since 1969.

(Extreme melt season leads to decade-long ecosystem changes in Antarctica's Dry Valleys, National Science Foundation)

The pace of warming in the Himalayas is significantly higher than the global average and the glacial melt happening faster than in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

(Bulk of Himalayan glaciers could vanish by 2100, SciDev.Net)

Without them, glacial ice enters the ocean faster and accelerates the pace of global sea level rise.

(Antarctica’s Larsen B Ice Shelf Nearing Its Final Act, NASA)

A liquid preservative for cytological materials, consisting of methanol and glacial acetic acid in an approximately 3:1 ratio.

(Methacarn, NCI Thesaurus)

The final death event, which occurred approximately 10,000 years ago — before the emergence of the modern reef, was not clearly linked to any abrupt sea-level rise or post-glacial meltwater pulse.

(Major study reveals Great Barrier Reef’s 30,000-year fight for survival, University of Granada)

Granular, partially consolidated snow that has passed through one summer melt season but is not yet glacial ice.

(Firn, NOAA Paleoclimate Glossary)

A tissue fixative consisting of formaldehyde, glacial acetic acid, and picric acid.

(Bouin's Fixative, NCI Thesaurus)