drift ice

American  

noun

1. detached floating ice in masses that drift with the wind or ocean currents, as in the polar seas.

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drift ice British  

noun

1. masses of ice floating in the open sea

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Etymology

Origin of drift ice

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Trains and flights were also experiencing delays, while authorities reported drift ice on the Danube and the Tisza rivers, where icebreakers have been put on alert.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

They are generally slightly smaller and, unlike solely land breeding seals found in the British Isles, can give birth to young on both drift ice and on land.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2024

Officials said they believe the killer whales were able to free themselves from the drift ice as gaps between them grew.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2024

A pod of killer whales appear to have become stuck in drift ice off the coast of Japan.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2024

This fact is important, as showing how masses of drift ice, when stranding on submarine banks, may exert a lateral pressure capable of bending and dislocating any yielding strata of gravel, sand, or mud.

From Principles of Geology or, The Modern Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants Considered as Illustrative of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir