icicle

[ ahy-si-kuhl ]

noun

1. a pendent, tapering mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water.
2. a thin strip of paper, plastic, or foil, usually silvery, for hanging on a Christmas tree as decoration.
3. a cold, unemotional person.

icicle

/ ˈaɪsɪkəl /

noun

1. a hanging spike of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water

Derived Forms

• ˈicicled, adjective

Other Words From

• ici·cled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of icicle¹

before 1000; Middle English isikel, Old English īsgicel, equivalent to īs ice + gicel icicle; akin to Old Norse jǫkul mass of ice, glacier

Word History and Origins

Origin of icicle¹

C14: from ice + ickel, from Old English gicel icicle, related to Old Norse jökull large piece of ice, glacier

Example Sentences

I fight against the icicles, but they wrap around me tighter.

From Literature

The icicles hanging in the open entrance glittered.

From Literature

Climbers began to haul themselves up frozen waterfalls and dangling icicles, carving out a discipline separate from mountaineering.

From Los Angeles Times

Blades of grass hardened into icicles as snow fell and temperatures dropped in Houston, Texas.

From Seattle Times

“I don’t think we’ll be having fish for dinner tonight,” Mom said, flicking a small icicle from her eyelash.‌

From Literature