snowdrift

[snoh-drift]

noun

1. a mound or bank of snow driven together by the wind.

2. snow driven before the wind.

snowdrift

/ ˈsnəʊˌdrɪft /

noun

1. a bank of deep snow driven together by the wind

Word History and Origins

Origin of snowdrift¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; snow, drift

Example Sentences

There have been reports of heavy snowdrifts and strong winds in the area.

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Jack woke up facedown in a snowdrift, and for a second—before the cold cut through his shock—he wondered exactly how many times he was going to be knocked out during this quest.

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Sierra-at-Tahoe said on its website that “the storm’s intensity did not let up — in fact it doubled down overnight,” with winds piling up deep snowdrifts that workers were in the process of clearing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Major roadways leading to the stadium were cleared, with 5-foot snowdrifts lining the roads after they were plowed.

Read more on Seattle Times

In an emergency where you have an extended power outage, snowdrifts outside your door can be used as a temporary freezer to keep food ready.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• sleet