ice flowers

American  

noun

1. formations of ice crystals on the surface of a still, slowly freezing body of water.

2. Also called frost flowers.  delicate tufts of frost on a surface of ice or snow.

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Etymology

Origin of ice flowers

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Across the smooth wind-swept ice of the open tarns they would find a growth of ice flowers, six-rayed and complicated, more abundant and more beautiful than the Alpine-524- summer flowers.

From Marriage by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

Instead of the barren ice, flowers were at her feet, and fruitful trees bent over her.

From Barriers Burned Away by Roe, Edward Payson

The surface of the floes carries 1 to 2 inches of snow, barely covering the salt ice flowers, and for this condition this vehicle of Day's is excellent.

From Scott's Last Expedition Volume I by Scott, Robert Falcon

The dark, the rain, the lights, people asleep in bed, the wind, the snow that will fall tomorrow, the ice, flowers, sunlight, country roads, pavements and stars—all these are the same.

From A Thousand and One Afternoons in Chicago by Hecht, Ben

Beyond the island the snow is still very thin, barely covering the ice flowers, and the surface is still bad.

From Scott's Last Expedition Volume I by Scott, Robert Falcon