ice cream

American  

noun

1. a frozen food containing cream or milk and butterfat, sugar, flavoring, and sometimes eggs.

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ice cream British  

noun

1. a kind of sweetened frozen liquid, properly made from cream and egg yolks but often made from milk or a custard base, flavoured in various ways

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Etymology

Origin of ice cream

First recorded in 1735–45

Compare meaning

How does ice-cream compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• custard vs. ice cream
• sorbet vs. ice cream
• ice milk vs. ice cream
• frozen custard vs. ice cream

Example Sentences

Food such as chocolate bars, crisps and ice cream have negative digestive effects for the macaques but are "as delicious for them" as they are for humans, according to a Cambridge University study.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

There were poke bowls, a sandwich station, pizza, steak, ice cream sundae and even a “wrap station,” so you could take your food to go.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

McIlroy’s bid for a second straight green jacket will be decided by his ability to survive the weather melting peach ice cream sandwiches all over the course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Unilever has spun off its Ben & Jerry’s ice cream business and sold its tea brands in recent years.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Also some Eskimo ice cream, which you make by taking reindeer tallow and a little seal oil and heating them hard, adding water and oil until everything is fluffy.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Related Words

• frozen yogurt
• sherbet
• sorbet