ice field

noun

1. a large sheet of floating ice, larger than an ice floe.

ice field

noun

1. a very large flat expanse of ice floating in the sea; large ice floe
2. a large mass of ice permanently covering an extensive area of land

ice field

1. A large expanse of ice covering a mountainous region and consisting of several interconnected glaciers.
2. An extensive area of ice on the surface of the ocean, consisting of multiple ice floes and covering an area that is greater than 10 km (6.2 mi) across.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ice field¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

They monitored floods, measured continental and ocean-surface temperatures, traced the movement of ice fields, and sensed the ground buckle during earthquakes.

From BBC

They warn it may now be too late to save many of the alpine ice fields, even if climate targets are met.

From BBC

Higgins believed the Trinidad’s hull was damaged a few days before the sinking as it passed through ice fields in the Straits of Mackinac.

From Seattle Times

But the alpine ice fields are especially sensitive to global warming.

From BBC

In Alaska, researchers estimate algae accounts for almost one-fifth of the annual melt across a large ice field.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ice floe
• iceberg