snow crystal

noun

1. a crystal of ice sufficiently heavy to fall from the atmosphere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of snow crystal¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Graupel, also known as snow pellets or soft hail, forms when water droplets freeze onto a snow crystal, according to the National Weather Service.

From Seattle Times

If the riming is particularly intense, the rimed snow crystal can grow to an appreciable size, but remain less than 0.2 inches.

From Los Angeles Times

Powdery snow, the kind you can clear with a leaf blower, forms when critically thick air layers aloft are saturated enough and cold enough for highly efficient snow crystal growth.

From Washington Post

“It takes maybe 100,000 water droplets evaporating to make one snow crystal,” Dr. Libbrecht said.

From New York Times

It's true that no snow crystal — the technical term for a single snowflake — is the same, and that's because of the complex processes that turn an ice crystal into a unique, symmetrical shape.

From Salon

Related Words

• sleet