glacial

adjective

gla·​cial ˈglā-shəl 

1

: suggestive of ice: such 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)

Glacial : 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

glacially

ˈglā-shə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of glacial

• icy
• freezing
• frigid
• cold
• chilly
• chill
• cool

Examples of glacial in a Sentence

Progress on the bill has been glacial.

a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend

Recent Examples on the Web

Therapies feature products made from local products in British Columbia, like Pacific seaweed and glacial clay. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Melting snow and glacial ice feed the Kabul River, which cuts through the city, and recharge aquifers, which form the backbone of the city’s water system, supplying 80% of residents. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

In similar previous efforts, Nepal lowered by 3 m (10 ft) the level of the central Himalayan glacial lake of Tsho Rolpa in 2000, and that of Imja in the vicinity of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, 10 years ago. — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

This glacial loss will endanger water availability in the area, Huss said. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin glacialis, from glacies

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for glacial

• facial
• racial
• spacial
• spatial
• bifacial
• biracial
• palatial
• postglacial
• preglacial
• subglacial
• craniofacial
• interfacial

Kids Definition

glacial

adjective

gla·​cial ˈglā-shəl 

1

a

: extremely cold : frigid

b

: lacking warmth of feeling

2

a

: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers

b

: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time when a large portion of the earth was covered by glaciers

c

capitalized : pleistocene