ice cream

American  

noun

1. a frozen food containing cream or milk and butterfat, sugar, flavoring, and sometimes eggs.

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ice cream British  

noun

1. a kind of sweetened frozen liquid, properly made from cream and egg yolks but often made from milk or a custard base, flavoured in various ways

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Etymology

Origin of ice cream

First recorded in 1735–45

Compare meaning

How does ice-cream compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• sorbet vs. ice cream
• custard vs. ice cream
• ice milk vs. ice cream
• frozen custard vs. ice cream

Example Sentences

What was once an occasional snack and ice cream flavor choice became a typical presence in coffee shops, bakeries and grocery stores all over the world.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

Tom Holland and co-star Zendaya visited Inverness during a break in production, popping into an ice cream shop.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

"Everyone should eat their ice cream -- maybe preferably earlier in the day. Small, consistent habits, like maintaining a structured meal routine, may help promote more regular eating patterns and support digestive function over time."

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

The first was in 2020 when she arrested him on suspicion of robbing an ice cream vendor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

There were a few souvenir shops, a general store, and an ice cream place called Miss Sunshine’s.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Related Words

• frozen yogurt
• sherbet
• sorbet