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Glite Dictionary
landfast

landfast

1 8.4
Sea ice that stays fixed to the land along the coast
  • adjective
  • /ˈlændˌfæst/
  • UK
: fijo
  • Unlike drifting ice, landfast ice remains fixed in place throughout the winter.

Examples

  • The landfast ice stretched for miles along the northern shore, forming a solid barrier.

  • Researchers set up their equipment on the stable landfast ice near the coast.

  • The ice was landfast along the shore.

  • During winter, the sea ice remains landfast.

  • The landfast ice stretched for miles along the northern shore, forming a solid barrier.

  • Unlike drifting ice, landfast ice remains fixed in place throughout the winter.

  • Researchers set up their equipment on the stable landfast ice near the coast.

Antonyms

drifting
1 3.7

Not staying in one place or job for long

Surface Forms

landfast positive

Morphology

landfast = land + fast (transparent) = land + fast

The meaning 'attached to the land' follows directly from 'land' + 'fast' ('fast' = firmly fixed), so the compound is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

The word landfast comes from land and fast, where fast means 'firmly fixed', as in fasten and steadfast. So landfast describes ice or ground that is 'attached' to the land and does not drift.