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Webster 1913 Edition


Glacial

Gla′cial

,
Adj.
[L.
glacialis
, from
glacies
ice: cf. F.
glacial
.]
1.
Pertaining to ice or to its action; consisting of ice; frozen; icy; esp., pertaining to glaciers;
as,
glacial
phenomena
.
Lyell.
2.
(Chem.)
Resembling ice; having the appearance and consistency of ice; – said of certain solid compounds;
as,
glacial
phosphoric or acetic acids
.
Glacial acid
(Chem.)
,
an acid of such strength or purity as to crystallize at an ordinary temperature, in an icelike form; as acetic or carbolic acid.
Glacial drift
(Geol.)
,
earth and rocks which have been transported by moving ice, land ice, or icebergs; bowlder drift.
Glacial epoch
or
Glacial period
(Geol.)
,
a period during which the climate of the modern temperate regions was polar, and ice covered large portions of the northern hemisphere to the mountain tops.
Glacial theory
or
Glacial hypothesis
.
(Geol.)
See
Glacier theory
, under
Glacier
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Glacial

GLA'CIAL

,
Adj.
[L. glacialis, from glacies,ice.]
Icy; consisting of ice; frozen.

Definition 2024


Glacial

Glacial

See also: glacial

English

Proper noun

Glacial

  1. (geology) Of the Pleistocene period dominated by the presence of glaciers.

glacial

glacial

See also: Glacial

English

Related terms

Adjective

glacial (comparative more glacial, superlative most glacial)

  1. of, or relating to glaciers
    We examined the glacial deposits.
  2. (figuratively) very slow
    • 2010, "Under the volcano", The Economist, 16 Oct 2010:
      Progress on judicial reform has been glacial, meeting enormous resistance.
  3. cold and icy
    After the rain and frost, the pavements were glacial.
  4. having the appearance of ice
    On cold days, glacial acetic acid will freeze in the bottle.
  5. cool and unfriendly
    He gave me a glacial stare.

Hyponyms

Translations

Noun

glacial (plural glacials)

  1. A glacial period (colloquially but not correctly known as ice age).

Translations


Catalan

Adjective

glacial m, f (masculine and feminine plural glacials)

  1. glacial

French

Adjective

glacial m (feminine singular glaciale, masculine plural glaciaux, feminine plural glaciales)

  1. glacial (all meanings)

Galician

Adjective

glacial m, f (plural glaciais)

  1. frozen, at the temperature of ice
  2. glacial, pertaining to glaciers
  3. (figuratively) frigid, chilly, not cordial

Synonyms

  • (freezing): xeado
  • (frigid, chilly): xélido

Related terms


Norman

Etymology

From Latin glaciālis, from glaciēs (ice).

Adjective

glacial m

  1. (Jersey) icy

Portuguese

Adjective

glacial m, f (plural glaciais, comparable)

  1. glacial (cold and icy)
  2. glacial (relating to glaciers)
  3. relating to ice ages
  4. (figuratively) glacial; cold (emotionally distant)

Synonyms


Spanish

Adjective

glacial m, f (plural glaciales)

  1. glacial
  2. (figuratively) frigid, chilly, not cordial

Related terms