ice ax
2
6.8
- noun
- /aɪs æks/
- Specialized
:
piolet
- See, this side slopes a little, and there are ledges where I could put my ice axe.
- ice ax and crampons
- ice ax and ropes
- pack an ice ax
So you use ice axes and crampons, and it's freezing.
- So you use ice axes and crampons, and it's freezing.
Examples
-
When climbing a glacier, it is essential to carry an ice ax to create secure footholds.
-
If you slip, stop yourself with the ice ax.
-
I swung my ice axe...
-
So got my ice ax, crampons in the bag.
-
Do you want the crampons or the ice ax?
-
So you use ice axes and crampons, and it's freezing.
-
With her ice ax, she chopped the footprint out of the frozen snow and laid it gently in her helmet.
Fiction book (1991) -
She was tenaciously grasping only her ice axe with one hand, which she had spiked into the ice.
Fiction book (1996) -
An ice ax is crucial for descending steep icy slopes safely during winter expeditions.
-
Before the ascent, make sure each climber checks their ice ax for any signs of wear or damage.
Synonyms
129
1.0
A tool with a heavy blade on a handle for chopping wood
A metal tool with a pointed end that climbers use to cut steps in ice
How Technical
- Specialized
2
6.8
318
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a mountaineering axe used on ice' is directly and compositionally derived from combining 'ice' (frozen water) with 'ax' (a chopping tool), so a learner who knows both words can infer it is an axe for ice. This noun–noun compounding is a transparent, cross-linguistic pattern and therefore readily understandable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
The noun ice ax comes from a simple image: an ax made for ice, with a sharp pick and blade that a climber uses to cut steps, hold on a slope, or stop a fall. That's why ice ax today means the 'climbing tool' used for safety on snow and ice.