Showing results for "icing"

• present participle of ice.

icing

American  

[ahy-sing] / ˈaɪ sɪŋ /

noun

1. a sweet, creamy spread, as of confectioners' sugar, butter, and flavoring, for covering cakes, cookies, etc.; frosting.

2. Meteorology. a coating of ice on a solid object.

3. Aviation. the freezing of atmospheric moisture on the surface of an aircraft.

4. Ice Hockey. the act of a player shooting the puck from the defensive half of the rink over the opponent's goal line, but not into the goal, as a defensive maneuver to keep the puck out of the reach of attacking opponents, resulting in a penalty against the defensive team if the puck is then next touched by an opponent other than the goalkeeper.

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idioms

1. icing on the cake. frosting.

icing British  

/ ˈaɪsɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called (esp US and Canadian): frosting. a sugar preparation, variously flavoured and coloured, for coating and decorating cakes, biscuits, etc

2. the formation of ice, as on a ship or aircraft, due to the freezing of moisture in the atmosphere

3. any unexpected extra or bonus (esp in icing on the cake )

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Etymology

Origin of icing

First recorded in 1760–70; ice + -ing ¹

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Explanation

Icing is the creamy, sweet stuff you use to frost a cake — you can also call it "frosting." Some people like the cake part of a cupcake, and others just like to lick off the icing. If you're over five, that's really not acceptable. Most icing consists of powdered sugar mixed with butter, margarine, cream cheese, or egg whites. In fact, in Britain, powdered sugar is called "icing sugar." Colloquially, you can describe something as the "icing on the cake," meaning it's not vital, but it's a positive addition: "After such a great day, finding that fifty dollar bill on the ground was just the icing on the cake!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

icing

“This is potentially more of a swan song for Xavier Becerra, the icing on the cake for a long and distinguished political career, and for Gavin Newsom, it was a stepping stone,” Rosales said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

"It's the icing on the cake of two great careers," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

The researchers compare this arrangement to chocolate chips embedded in a cookie, while organic dye molecules covering the outside resemble icing.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Getting the color and appearance right for the icing on cupcakes alone required a nearly thirtyfold increase in natural ingredients.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

So, I lean over toward Anna, who’s wearing two party hats and eating a pile of straight-up icing.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

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Related Words

• cream
• glaze

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