firn
[ feern ]
/ fɪərn /
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noun
névé.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
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
Words nearby firn
firmament, firman, firmer chisel, firmer gouge, firmware, firn, firnification, firn line, Firozabad, firry, first
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for firn
The small firn also rises with a common footstalk from the radix and are from four to eight in number.
The Journals of Lewis and Clark|Meriwether Lewis and William ClarkFirn, firn, or fern, n. snow on high glaciers while still granular—the French nv.
British Dictionary definitions for firn
Word Origin for firn
C19: from German (Swiss dialect) firn of the previous year, from Old High German firni old
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Scientific definitions for firn
firn
[ fîrn ]
Granular, partially consolidated snow that has passed through one summer melt season but is not yet glacial ice. Firn becomes glacial ice once it has become impermeable to liquid water.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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