glacial
/ˈɡleɪʃl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡleɪʃl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈglā-shəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡleɪ.si.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡleɪ.ʃəl/ (ame, ipa)
glacial — adjective
- glacialpositive
- more glacialcomparative
- most glacialsuperlative
1. formed by the movement and melting of a glacier — a large, slow-moving mass of i
formed by the movement and melting of a glacier — a large, slow-moving mass of ice that reshapes the land beneath it
The valley was carved by glacial activity thousands of years ago.
collocation: glacial activity
Arjun photographed the sharp glacial rocks near the edge of the melting ice.
attributive: glacial rocks
Scientists study glacial deposits to understand how past climates changed.
Quinn traced the route of an ancient glacial river on the map.
- glacier-formed
literal equivalent, but less natural in English
- glacial-erosional
technical term used in geography for landforms shaped by glacial erosion
文法句型
glacial + noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used before a noun. It appears mainly in geography, geology, and climate science contexts.
常見錯誤
2. so cold that the air, water, or ground feels as if it could freeze you; extremel
so cold that the air, water, or ground feels as if it could freeze you; extremely cold, like ice
A glacial wind swept across the plain, forcing the team into their tents.
collocation: glacial wind
The mountain stream was so glacial that Manuela could not swim for long.
intensifier pattern: so glacial that…
Luca wrapped himself in three layers against the glacial morning air.
Jin's fingers went numb in the glacial water of the lake.
文法句型
glacial + noun
be + glacial
用法筆記
Stronger than cold or chilly. Often used in descriptive or literary writing about weather, wind, and water.
常見錯誤
3. showing a complete lack of warmth or emotion in your behaviour, expression, or v
showing a complete lack of warmth or emotion in your behaviour, expression, or voice, making others feel unwelcome or kept at a distance
Zola gave Xiu a glacial stare and walked past without a word.
collocation: glacial stare
The manager's glacial tone during the meeting made everyone uncomfortable.
collocation: glacial tone
Walid received a glacial reception from the committee when he arrived late.
Roya met their apology with a glacial silence that lasted all week.
文法句型
glacial + noun
be + glacial
用法筆記
Stronger than unfriendly — it suggests a deliberate, ice-cold distance rather than mere rudeness. Often used with stare, tone, silence, glare, or reception.
常見錯誤
4. happening or moving so slowly that it seems almost to have stopped, often in a w
happening or moving so slowly that it seems almost to have stopped, often in a way that is disappointing or frustrating
The construction work moved at a glacial pace because of the constant rain.
collocation: glacial pace
Christopher watched the traffic creep forward at a glacial speed.
collocation: glacial speed
The government response to the housing crisis was glacial, frustrating local leaders.
Élise found the bureaucratic process glacial and deeply frustrating.
文法句型
glacial + noun
be + glacial
用法筆記
Typically used to criticise speed — the slowness is presented as unreasonable or disappointing. Common with progress, pace, speed, and response. Does NOT mean 'at a steady pace'; it means 'unacceptably slow.'
5. belonging to the geological periods when large ice sheets covered vast areas of
belonging to the geological periods when large ice sheets covered vast areas of the Earth's surface, most recently during the Pleistocene epoch
Many large mammals died out at the end of the last glacial period.
collocation: glacial period
Pim studied the glacial terrain shaped by ice sheets thousands of years ago.
attributive: glacial terrain
These glacial sediments contain fossils of woolly mammoths and other extinct animals.
Lakshmi's lecture explained how glacial cycles affect sea levels.
- ice-age
less technical; used in general writing
- Pleistocene
the exact geological epoch of the most recent glacial period; more technical
- interglacial
the warmer period between glacial periods, such as the current Holocene
文法句型
glacial + noun
用法筆記
Almost always attributive. Commonly appears in the fixed phrase the last glacial period (also called the last Ice Age). Geologists may refer to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) as the peak of the most recent glacial period.
glacial — noun
- glacialsingular
- glacialsplural
1. a cold interval in Earth's climate history when ice sheets expanded far beyond t
a cold interval in Earth's climate history when ice sheets expanded far beyond their modern limits, covering large parts of the land — this noun is the shortened form of glacial period
Scientists believe we are living in a warm interval between two glacials.
countable noun: between two glacials
The last glacial ended roughly eleven thousand years ago, reshaping the continents.
definite article: the last glacial
Adina's research focuses on how plant life recovered after each glacial.
Each glacial covered areas that are now farmland and cities.
- ice age
more common term for a cold geological period; less technical
- glacial period
the full form of the noun; more common in academic writing
- interglacial
a warm period between glacials, such as the Holocene
文法句型
the + glacial
用法筆記
This noun is a shortened form of glacial period. It is almost always preceded by the (the glacial) or a determiner (each glacial, this glacial). Used mainly in academic geology and climate science writing.