sérac

or se·rac

[ si-rak; French sey-rak ]

noun

, plural sé·racs [si-, raks, sey-, rak].

1. a large irregularity of glacial ice, as a pinnacle found in glacial crevasses and formed by melting or movement of the ice.

sérac

/ ˈsɛræk /

noun

1. a pinnacle of ice among crevasses on a glacier, usually on a steep slope

Word History and Origins

Origin of sérac¹

1855–60; < French sérac kind of white cheese (compare Medieval Latin serācium ), ultimately < Latin serum whey

Word History and Origins

Origin of sérac¹

C19: from Swiss French: a variety of white cheese (hence the ice that it resembles) from Medieval Latin serācium, from Latin serum whey

Example Sentences

For many hours a way was won through a mighty turmoil of serac and over innumerable crevasses with varied fortune.

From Project Gutenberg

Pressing northward it was torn into the jumbled crush of serac-ice, sparkling beneath an unclouded sun.

From Project Gutenberg

Retracing the way out of the broken ice, we steered in a south-westerly direction, just above the line of serac and crevassed ice.

From Project Gutenberg

Whether a stone underfoot gave way, or whether the Admiral's voice brought down a serac of rotten wall, is not clear.

From Project Gutenberg

The region was one of serac where the glacier was puckered up, folded and crushed.

From Project Gutenberg