iceberg

[ ahys-burg ]

noun

1. a large floating mass of ice, detached from a glacier and carried out to sea.
2. Informal. an emotionally cold person.
3. Australian Informal. a person who swims or surfs regularly in winter.

iceberg

/ ˈaɪsbɜːɡ /

noun

1. a large mass of ice floating in the sea, esp a mass that has broken off a polar glacier
2. tip of the iceberg
   the small visible part of something, esp a problem or difficulty, that is much larger
3. slang.
   a person considered to have a cold or reserved manner

iceberg

/ īs′bûrg′ /

1. A massive body of floating ice that has broken away from a glacier or ice field. Most of an iceberg lies underwater, but because ice is not as dense as water, about one ninth of it remains above the surface.

iceberg

1. A large piece of ice that has broken away from a glacier at the shore and floated out to sea.

Notes

Most of the ice in an iceberg is underwater, leaving only the “tip of the iceberg” visible — a fact that is often alluded to in discussions of subjects in which the most important aspects are hidden from view.

Word History and Origins

Origin of iceberg¹

1765–75; half Anglicization, half adoption of Dutch ijsberg ice mountain; cognate with German Eisberg, Swedish isberg

Word History and Origins

Origin of iceberg¹

C18: probably part translation of Middle Dutch ijsberg ice mountain; compare Norwegian isberg

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tip of the iceberg, the first hint or revelation of something larger or more complex:

   The new evidence in the case is just the tip of the iceberg.

Example Sentences

“There are incredible scenes where it’s like an iceberg, you’re just seeing the top, but there’s a lot roiling below,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Yang has been known to portray the iceberg that sank the Titanic or the adorable Thai pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng.

From Salon

A postcard written from the Titanic by a man who lost his life when the ship hit an iceberg three days later will go on sale later this month.

From BBC

But the charity believes this figure is just the "tip of the iceberg".

From BBC

Detectives fear the four victims could just be the tip of the iceberg.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abstract
• candid
• detached
• disinterested
• sober
• unbiased
• unemotional