First Known Use: 1656
Dictionary
glacial
adjective gla·cial \ˈglā-shəl\
: of or relating to glaciers : produced or caused by glaciers
: very cold
: very slow
Full Definition of GLACIAL
1
: suggestive of ice: as a : extremely cold : frigid <a glacial wind> b : devoid of warmth and cordiality <a glacial handshake> c : coldly imperturbable <maintained a glacial calm>
2
: of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals <glacial acetic acid>
3
a (1) : of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present (2) capitalized : pleistocene b : of, relating to, or produced by glaciers c : suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers <progress on the bill has been glacial>
— gla·cial·ly \-shə-lē\ adverb
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Origin of GLACIAL
Latin glacialis, from glacies
GLACIAL Defined for Kids
glacial
adjective gla·cial \ˈglā-shəl\
Definition of GLACIAL for Kids
1
: of or relating to glaciers <glacial ice>
2
: very cold
3
: very slow <a glacial pace>
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