ice crystal
4
2.8
- noun
- /aɪs ˈkrɪstl/
:
cristal de hielo
- A jumble of ice crystals forms with various orientations.
These clouds are thin and wispy, float at high altitudes, and are typically made of small ice crystals.
- These clouds are thin and wispy, float at high altitudes, and are typically made of small ice crystals.
Examples
-
Now it came back like ice crystals forming and linking together across the gray surface of a winter pond.
Fiction book (1991) -
The shape of the ice crystals causes the moonlight to be focused into a ring.
Blog text (28) -
We got ice crystals everywhere.
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I went fast, a swirl of ice crystals flying up behind.
Fiction book (1998) -
Water in the form of ice crystals can also contribute to greenhouse warming.
Academic text (1991) -
The clouds are made up of tiny droplets of water and ice crystals so light they hang in the sky.
-
A halo of ice crystals glimmered on the floor.
Fiction book (2002) -
Actual snow falls because ice crystals form around specks of dust, as do raindrops.
Fiction book (1991) -
His cheeks were flaming, and ice crystals matted his beard.
Fiction book (1999) -
Actual snow falls because ice crystals form around specks of dust.
Synonyms
39
1.0
A small thin piece of snow that falls from the sky
A tiny ice crystal that makes fine snow or frost
Very small ice crystals near the ground that sparkle in cold clear weather
A thin pointed piece of ice that grows from cold surfaces
Thin needle-like pieces of ice that form in water when it begins to freeze
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'ice' (frozen water) + 'crystal' (a solid with a regular lattice) yields a small crystalline particle of ice. This noun–noun compound follows common, cross-linguistic compounding patterns and would be readily understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Ice crystal comes from the tiny, gem-like shapes frozen water makes in cold air: ice is the frozen water and crystal shows the clear, often six-sided form. So, Ice crystal means 'a small, single particle of ice' you find in snow, frost, or clouds.