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

Woods will also face the mental pressure of long summit pushes, particularly navigating the treacherous icefall between Base Camp and Camp 1.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

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

From Washington Times • May 2, 2023

The ropes and ladders that a team of Sherpa guides lashed across the chasms in the notorious Khumbu icefall had to be fixed daily rather than the usual once a week.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 4, 2023

The icefall was crisscrossed with crevasses and tottering seracs.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer