firn
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of firn
1850–55; < German (Swiss), noun use of firn last year's, old; cognate with Old English fyrn former, ancient, Gothic fairneis; akin to Old Norse forn ancient. See before
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As a result, bare ice and firn remained exposed for longer periods, increasing overall ice loss.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026
“It’s undeniable that the average firn line is creeping up,” Volken said, referring to the line across glaciers at which exposed glacier ice transitions to the snow-covered surface of a glacier.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 4, 2023
Ice and firn, or dense snow leftover from previous seasons, also disappeared from the ridge.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 18, 2022
Diffusion of stable isotopes in polar firn and ice: the isotope effect in firn diffusion.
From Nature ● Feb. 4, 2018
Camped a quarter mile in from the edge, on a long flat streak of firn.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
