ice cream

American  

noun

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

---

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

---

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

For the moms who love a tart yet refreshing dessert, treat them to homemade lime ice cream.

From Salon • May 10, 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

Food such as chocolate bars, crisps and ice cream have negative digestive effects for the macaques but are "as delicious for them" as they are for humans, according to a Cambridge University study.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

“Maybe it cracks 90 degrees and we bring out the ice cream sandwiches,” McGann offered, as a “hedge against potential adverse impacts.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

He stepped outside and saw a man pushing an ice cream cart down the sidewalk.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• frozen yogurt
• sherbet
• sorbet