glacial

From French glacial, from Latin glaciālis, from glaciēs (“ice”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡleɪ.ʃ(ɪ)əl/

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• Rhymes: -eɪʃəl

glacial (comparative more glacial, superlative most glacial)

1. Of, or relating to glaciers.

   We examined the glacial deposits.

   Wang Shijin is a glacier expert and director of the Yulong Snow Mountain Glacial and Environmental Observation Research Station.

2. (figuratively) Very slow.
   • 2010, "Under the volcano", The Economist, 16 Oct 2010:

     Progress on judicial reform has been glacial, meeting enormous resistance.

3. Cold and icy.

   After the rain and frost, the pavements were glacial.

4. Having the appearance of ice.

   On cold days, glacial acetic acid will freeze in the bottle.

5. (figuratively) Cool and unfriendly.

   He gave me a glacial stare.

glacial (plural glacials)

1. A glacial period (colloquially known as an ice age).

   Synonym: ice age

• glacial till

• gallica

glacial (masculine and feminine plural glacials)

1. glacial

glacial (feminine singular glaciale, masculine plural glaciaux, feminine plural glaciales)

1. glacial (all meanings)

• “glacial” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

glacial m or f (plural glaciais)

1. frozen, at the temperature of ice
2. glacial, pertaining to glaciers
3. (figuratively) frigid, chilly, not cordial

• (freezing): xeado
• (frigid, chilly): xélido

• glaciación

From Latin glaciālis, from glaciēs (“ice”).

glacial m

1. (Jersey) icy

glacial m or f (plural glaciais, comparable)

1. glacial (cold and icy)
2. glacial (relating to glaciers)
3. relating to ice ages
4. (figuratively) glacial; cold (emotionally distant)

• (cold and icy): gélido
• (emotionally distant): gélido, frio

glacial (plural glaciales)

1. glacial
2. (figuratively) frigid, chilly, not cordial

• glaciación
• glacialmente