ice field

noun

1. a large sheet of floating ice, larger than an ice floe.

ice field

noun

1. a very large flat expanse of ice floating in the sea; large ice floe

2. a large mass of ice permanently covering an extensive area of land

ice field

1. A large expanse of ice covering a mountainous region and consisting of several interconnected glaciers.

2. An extensive area of ice on the surface of the ocean, consisting of multiple ice floes and covering an area that is greater than 10 km (6.2 mi) across.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ice field¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

In order for the Erebus to make its way through the thickest ice fields, the British Admiralty equipped the vessel with a fifteen-ton, twenty-five horsepower railroad locomotive engine.

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After that, near-surface temperatures will rise sharply, speeding up melting across the world's ice fields.

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Waist-deep snow, ice fields, avalanches and the risk of hypothermia and frostbite make the mountain a far riskier proposition.

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They monitored floods, measured continental and ocean-surface temperatures, traced the movement of ice fields, and sensed the ground buckle during earthquakes.

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They warn it may now be too late to save many of the alpine ice fields, even if climate targets are met.

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Related Words

• ice floe 
• iceberg