Origin: Latin
suffix -al
Glacial has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
Adjective
· Proper Noun
Noun
1
A glacial period (colloquially known as an ice age).
"The earth entered a new glacial period about two million years ago, locking vast amounts of water in massive sheets of ice."
Adjective
1
relating to or derived from a glacier
"glacial deposit"
2
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
"a frigid greeting"
"got a frosty reception"
"a frozen look on their faces"
"a glacial handshake"
"icy stare"
"wintry smile"
3
extremely cold
"an arctic climate"
"a frigid day"
"gelid waters of the North Atlantic"
"glacial winds"
"icy hands"
"polar weather"
4
Of, or relating to glaciers.
"The glacial meltwater carved deep valleys through the mountain range over thousands of years."
Proper Noun
1
Of the Pleistocene period dominated by the presence of glaciers.
"Geologists dated the ancient riverbed to a glacial era when massive ice sheets covered much of North America."
Example Sentences
"glacial deposit"
adjective
"a frigid greeting"
adjective
"got a frosty reception"
adjective
"a frozen look on their faces"
adjective
"a glacial handshake"
adjective
"icy stare"
adjective
"wintry smile"
adjective
"an arctic climate"
adjective
"a frigid day"
adjective
"gelid waters of the North Atlantic"
adjective
Related Terms