ice mass
1
3.3
- noun
- /aɪs mæs/
- Specialized
:
masa de hielo
- Global warming, too, has brought the poles further into public awareness, as scientists and the media report on their shrinking ice masses.
- ice mass is melting
How about how the ice mass of Greenland is is melting at a faster rate than it has for over a Millennium now?
- How about how the ice mass of Greenland is is melting at a faster rate than it has for over a Millennium now?
Examples
-
Scientists are concerned about the rapid loss of ice mass from the Arctic due to climate change.
-
The South Pole is neither heating up nor losing ice mass.
Blog text (26) -
Is the ice mass growing in Antarctica?
Blog text (18) -
But an increase of ice mass at the South Pole will reduce the rate of rotational decay.
Blog text (28) -
Why is the Arctic decreasing in ice mass but the Antarctic increasing?
Blog text (23) -
The glacier's ice mass is crucial for maintaining the region's ecosystem and water supply.
-
Monitoring changes in ice mass helps researchers understand the effects of global warming on sea levels.
Synonyms
96
3.8
A large body of ice that moves slowly over land where more snow falls than melts
57
1.7
A large piece of ice that floats in the sea after breaking off a glacier
19
3.4
A thick layer of ice and snow that always covers large land areas like the poles or mountain tops
10
7.4
A large piece of ice that floats in the sea after breaking from a glacier
5
3.9
A large, thick area of ice and snow that covers land, especially at the poles and on high mountains
4
4.1
A thick, flat piece of ice floating where a glacier reaches the sea
3
4.7
A large flat area of floating ice on the sea
2
6.7
A large area of floating ice pushed together by wind and sea
1
4.1
A large area of floating ice pressed together in polar seas
A large area of ice attached to land that sticks out over the sea, often near the poles
Large pieces of ice that float on the open sea
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a large body of ice' is directly and compositionally derived from 'ice' (frozen water) combined with 'mass' (a bulk or large body of matter). This is a transparent nominal compound following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words can readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Ice mass combines ice and mass, with mass meaning a 'large lump' or 'big pile', so the phrase paints a picture of a huge block of ice. That's why it is used today to mean a 'large body of ice', like part of a glacier or ice sheet.