icicle

[ ahy-si-kuhl ]

noun

1. a pendent, tapering mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water.
2. a thin strip of paper, plastic, or foil, usually silvery, for hanging on a Christmas tree as decoration.
3. a cold, unemotional person.

icicle

/ ˈaɪsɪkəl /

noun

1. a hanging spike of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water

Derived Forms

• ˈicicled, adjective

Other Words From

• ici·cled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of icicle¹

before 1000; Middle English isikel, Old English īsgicel, equivalent to īs ice + gicel icicle; akin to Old Norse jǫkul mass of ice, glacier

Word History and Origins

Origin of icicle¹

C14: from ice + ickel, from Old English gicel icicle, related to Old Norse jökull large piece of ice, glacier

Example Sentences

Hike up the ice-shrouded Onion River, whose trail is accessed via the Ray Berglund Wayside, before passing through a canyon lined with towering icicles.

From Outside Online

Is stabbing someone with an icicle really the perfect crime?

From The Daily Beast

The coldness of his body through the bag jolts me like an icicle through my heart.

From The Daily Beast

Or for that special lady, how about a $1,595 J. Crew icicle dress?

From The Daily Beast

The badge of the order was a ribbon, striped black, white and yellow, and the device something like an icicle.

From Project Gutenberg

It was only a long icicle, and all Jack had to do was to touch the reindeer with its point to make them run faster and faster.

From Project Gutenberg

Then without warning the Icicle struck something frozen in the ice.

From Project Gutenberg

More than human he seemed, there under the icicle loom of the stern-post, his gray hair and beard rigid with ice.

From Project Gutenberg

As cool as an icicle, the man stretched himself out again, half on the deck and half in the cab of the launch.

From Project Gutenberg