ice crystals

plural noun

, Meteorology.

1. precipitation consisting of small, slowly falling crystals of ice.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ice crystals¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Velocity measurements show the ice crystals and snowflakes are either suspended high up or are falling slowly.

From BBC

It was so cold that the instant I stepped inside — wearing a face mask, earmuffs and mittens for protection — ice crystals began to form on my nose and snowflakes fell from the ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times

They carefully varied the pore sizes and shapes by controlling the growth of ice crystals within the material.

From Science Daily

A fog of ice crystals in the air within the U.S. drill tent jammed up their drill tower.

From Science Magazine

Sun halos are optical illusions created when ice crystals form in the correct shape in the upper atmosphere, usually accompanying thin, wispy cirrus clouds.

From New York Times