iceberg

[ ahys-burg ]

noun

1. a large floating mass of ice, detached from a glacier and carried out to sea.
2. Informal. an emotionally cold person.
3. Australian Informal. a person who swims or surfs regularly in winter.

iceberg

/ ˈaɪsbɜːɡ /

noun

1. a large mass of ice floating in the sea, esp a mass that has broken off a polar glacier
2. tip of the iceberg
   the small visible part of something, esp a problem or difficulty, that is much larger
3. slang.
   a person considered to have a cold or reserved manner

iceberg

/ īs′bûrg′ /

1. A massive body of floating ice that has broken away from a glacier or ice field. Most of an iceberg lies underwater, but because ice is not as dense as water, about one ninth of it remains above the surface.

iceberg

1. A large piece of ice that has broken away from a glacier at the shore and floated out to sea.

Notes

Most of the ice in an iceberg is underwater, leaving only the “tip of the iceberg” visible — a fact that is often alluded to in discussions of subjects in which the most important aspects are hidden from view.

Word History and Origins

Origin of iceberg¹

1765–75; half Anglicization, half adoption of Dutch ijsberg ice mountain; cognate with German Eisberg, Swedish isberg

Word History and Origins

Origin of iceberg¹

C18: probably part translation of Middle Dutch ijsberg ice mountain; compare Norwegian isberg

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. tip of the iceberg, the first hint or revelation of something larger or more complex:

   The new evidence in the case is just the tip of the iceberg.

Example Sentences

In Russia, Uganda, and elsewhere around the world, legal change is the tip of the iceberg.

From The Daily Beast

The recent botched executions are just the tip of the iceberg.

From The Daily Beast

The logic here was a little unsound—if I remember the S.S. Titanic story, “Iceberg” would have been the right name.

From The Daily Beast

Confusion over the catcher's eye black is just the tip of the iceberg for this befuddled limey.

From The Daily Beast

As far as cash-grabs go, the VIP pass is only the tip of the iceberg.

From The Daily Beast

During these fourteen days we saw very few whales or albatrosses, and not one iceberg.

From Project Gutenberg

She was an iceberg,—a beautiful kill-joy,—a wet blanket of charming texture.

From Project Gutenberg

Greatly agitated, she approached her instructor, when Mr. Read walked in;—a cynical iceberg!

From Project Gutenberg

An iceberg may be defined as a detached portion of a polar glacier carried out to sea.

From Project Gutenberg

“The fishermen of my country can feel the chill of an iceberg through the fog and the night,” she said at last.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abstract
• candid
• detached
• disinterested
• sober
• unbiased
• unemotional