snowfield

[ snoh-feeld ]

noun

, Geology.

1. a large and relatively permanent expanse of snow.

snowfield

/ ˈsnəʊˌfiːld /

noun

1. a large area of permanent snow

snowfield

/ snō′fēld′ /

1. A large expanse of snow, usually with a smooth and uniform surface, and especially at the head of a glacier.

Word History and Origins

Origin of snowfield¹

First recorded in 1835–45; snow + field

Example Sentences

Aguiló soon came into their view and they watched him slowly descend to a prominent triangular snowfield, still 1,000 feet of technical climbing above the glacier.

From Outside Online

It broke free from a snowfield on a slope that was between 35 and 38 degrees—that’s the pitch of an intermediate run at your local ski resort.

From Outside Online

It was a massive snow year for the Sierra, and Heinbockel spent some 500 miles trekking across snowfields, enduring swollen river crossings and passing days alone in sections that more cautious hikers had opted to skip.

From Outside Online

The moon just showed over the mountains in that direction which cast their strange black shadows on the snowfield.

From Project Gutenberg

Arcot turned a powerful searchlight on it, and it stood out brightly against the vast snowfield.

From Project Gutenberg

For example, within a snowfield the summers remain relatively cold.

From Project Gutenberg

The great snowfield overhead sparkled as if set with thousands and thousands of gold and silver stars.

From Project Gutenberg

A packed snowfield was underfoot, firm enough to hold our weight, with a foot or so of loose, soft snow on its top.

From Project Gutenberg