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meltwater

meltwater

1 4.8
Water that comes from snow or ice when they become liquid, often on glaciers
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛltˌwɔːtər/
  • UK
translation icon : agua de deshielo
  • As spring approached, the meltwater trickled down the mountainside, marking the end of winter in the valley.
  • glacial meltwater
  • meltwater from a glacier
  • meltwater streams

Examples

  • At one place, they had to cross a meltwater stream running high and fast under the long June sun.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Ephemeral streams transport the glacial meltwater to terminal lakes that lose water only through sublimation and evaporation.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Eventually, as the ice shrank, the meltwater managed to escape.

    Academic text (2002)
  • A depression below shows the subglacial path of meltwater produced by the 1996 eruption.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Even a modest increase in meltwater can strongly influence the fraction of pond coverage and hence the surface albedo.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In the Southern Ocean, glacial meltwater accounts for most of the freshwater that flows into the system, Ghiglione said.

    Blog text (4)
  • For 4-10 weeks during the austral summer, the meltwater streams become a distinctive feature of the barren landscape.

    Academic text (1999)
  • With the retreat of glaciers from tidewater, meltwater creates new drainage patterns on land and forms incipient streams and lakes.

    Academic text (2007)
  • During the summer, the meltwater from the glaciers flowed into the nearby lake, nourishing the surrounding ecosystem.

  • The heavy rains caused the meltwater to rise rapidly, creating a strong current in the river.

Synonyms

water
vsmeltwater
1.0

A clear liquid you drink to stay alive

is the specific form that comes from melting snow or ice
snowmelt
vsmeltwater
  • UK
1 3.2

Water that runs off from snow in spring

is from snow or ice and forms mainly in cold regions

How Abundant

flood
286 1.0
meltwater
  • UK
1 4.8
stream
150 1.0
to trickle
70 3.4
drip
44 1.0

Surface Forms

meltwater singular
meltwaters plural

Morphology

meltwater = melt + water (transparent) = melt + water

Direct compound of 'melt' and 'water'; the meaning (water produced by melting snow or ice) is straightforward for learners who know both components.

Etymology

The word meltwater joins melt ('to change from solid to liquid') and water, so it means water that comes from melted snow or ice when it warms and begins to flow.