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.
“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
Ice and firn, or dense snow leftover from previous seasons, also disappeared from the ridge.
From Washington Post
Much of the ice on the continent of Antarctica is actually a form of consolidated snow called firn.
From Literature
During large melt events, meltwater on the surface can seep through the snow and into firn, or a layer of compacted snow that is not yet compressed into glacial ice.
From Seattle Times
Depending on the temperature of the water, snow and firn, the meltwater can refreeze and can create ice lenses.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
