icefall

American  

[ahys-fawl] / ˈaɪsˌfɔl /

noun

1. a jumbled mass of ice in a glacier.

2. a mass of ice overhanging a precipice.

3. a falling of ice from a glacier, iceberg, etc.

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icefall British  

/ ˈaɪsˌfɔːl /

noun

1. a very steep part of a glacier that has deep crevasses and resembles a frozen waterfall

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Etymology

Origin of icefall

First recorded in 1810–20; ice + fall

Example Sentences

Because the only way to get back to base camp was via that icefall, Whittaker chose to stay above it on the mountain for five steady weeks as more camps were established up Everest.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Three Sherpa climbers died in an avalanche in the Khumbu icefall on April 12.

From Washington Times • May 2, 2023

Standing outside his yellow tent at the top of the sprawling base camp, the 50-year-old Mr Sherpa pointed to the vast Khumbu icefall towering above.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2022

There, according to an online brochure featuring animations of chilly remote landscapes, they’ll explore an icefall, ride fat bikes with wide tires to grip the frozen terrain, and collect samples of snow.

From Slate • Oct. 3, 2019

The icefall was crisscrossed with crevasses and tottering seracs.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer