freezing rain

noun

1. rain that falls as a liquid but freezes into glaze upon contact with the ground.

Word History and Origins

Origin of freezing rain¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Precipitation, to be clear, includes any variant – not just water, but snow or freezing rain and other forms of water falling from the sky.

From Salon

Freezing rain greeted the first batch of refugees taking the ferry from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay in December 2015.

From BBC

A yellow weather warning has been issued for parts of the UK on Saturday with snow, ice and freezing rain forecast.

From BBC

Freezing rain is one of the most hazardous types of precipitation where liquid water droplets freeze instantly on ground impact.

From BBC

It will fall largely to the east Pennines with 2-5cm for example expected on the North York Moors and Northumberland, and some freezing rain may be mixed in.

From BBC