glaciology

[ gley-shee-ol-uh-jee, -see- ]

noun

1. the branch of geology that deals with the nature, distribution, and action of glaciers and with their effect on the earth's topography.

glaciology

/ ˌɡlæsɪˈɒlədʒɪ; ˌɡlæsɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌɡleɪ-; ˌɡleɪ- /

noun

1. the study of the distribution, character, and effects of glaciers

Derived Forms

• ˌglaciˈologist, noun
• glaciological, adjective

Other Words From

• gla·ci·o·log·i·cal [gley-shee-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l, -see-], glaci·o·logic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glaciology¹

First recorded in 1890–95; glaci(er) + -o- + -logy

Example Sentences

“I was really excited about the way he wanted to apply old ideas in other fields to glaciology—things that existed in engineering and materials science for decades but no one had brought into glaciology,” she says.

From MIT Technology Review

The many glaciers occurring in the Alps of central Europe where glaciology arose doubtless suggested this explanation.

From Project Gutenberg