icefall

American  

[ahys-fawl] / ˈaɪsˌfɔl /

noun

1. a jumbled mass of ice in a glacier.

2. a mass of ice overhanging a precipice.

3. a falling of ice from a glacier, iceberg, etc.

---

icefall British  

/ ˈaɪsˌfɔːl /

noun

1. a very steep part of a glacier that has deep crevasses and resembles a frozen waterfall

---

Etymology

Origin of icefall

First recorded in 1810–20; ice + fall

Example Sentences

Because the only way to get back to base camp was via that icefall, Whittaker chose to stay above it on the mountain for five steady weeks as more camps were established up Everest.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Three Sherpa climbers died in an avalanche in the Khumbu icefall on April 12.

From Washington Times • May 2, 2023

Potential hazards, from icefall to rapidly changing weather, add risk to climbing Mount Rainier.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2023

An avalanche above the Khumbu icefall killed 16 sherpas while they were fixing ropes in 2014.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2022

Before I could plot a logical course through the icefall, the wind came up, and snow began to slant hard out of the clouds, stinging my face and reducing visibility to almost nothing.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer