snow
Meteorology. precipitation in the form of ice crystals, mainly of intricately branched, hexagonal form and often agglomerated into snowflakes, formed directly from the freezing of the water vapor in the air.: Compare ice crystals, snow grains, snow pellets.
these flakes as forming a layer on the ground or other surface.
the fall of these flakes or a storm during which these flakes fall.
something resembling a layer of these flakes in whiteness, softness, or the like: the snow of fresh linen.
Literary.
white blossoms.
the white color of snow.
Slang. cocaine or heroin.
Usually snows .Informal. snow tires: Most people up here keep their snows on through the end of April.
white spots or bands on a television screen caused by a weak signal.: Compare hash1 (def. 5).
to send down snow; fall as snow.
to descend like snow.
to let fall as or like snow.
Slang.
to make an overwhelming impression on: The view really snowed them.
to persuade or deceive: She was snowed into believing everything.
snow under,
to cover with or bury in snow.
to overwhelm with a larger amount of something than can be conveniently dealt with.
to defeat overwhelmingly.
Origin of snow
1Other words from snow
- snow·less, adjective
- snow·like, adjective
Other definitions for Snow (2 of 2)
Sir Charles Percy C. P. Snow, 1905–80, English novelist and scientist.
Origin of Snow
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use snow in a sentence
The highest concentration of microplastics — 119,000 pieces per cubic meter — was in snow from Everest Base Camp, where climbers congregate, but plastic pieces also appeared at a spot 8,440 meters above sea level, near the 8,850-meter summit.
Plastics are showing up in the world’s most remote places, including Mount Everest | Carolyn Wilke | November 20, 2020 | Science NewsYou’ll come for the empty glades—this independently owned resort in the Selkirk Mountains has some of the best tree skiing around—and an average of 300-plus inches of snow per year.
10 Ski Areas Where You Can Camp in the Parking Lot | Megan Michelson | November 20, 2020 | Outside OnlineHere’s your chance to let us know how much snow you think will fall this winter by filling out the form below.
How much snow will fall in D.C. this winter? Enter our competition. | Jason Samenow | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostTogether, these areas contain the largest volume of snow and ice outside of Earth’s polar regions.
Surprising long-haul dust and tar are melting high glaciers | Sid Perkins | November 17, 2020 | Science News For StudentsThere is less snow cover that might make a brown owl stand out, and browner owls hide better in brown trees.
It was snowing outside, and he heard a knocking at his door.
Denmark Has a Riveting New Drama Starring Mads Mikkelsen | Marlow Stern | July 14, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIt has been snowing for days, and at night temperatures in this mountain hamlet plummet far below zero.
By the time we unloaded our bags at the curb, it was snowing heavily.
The attack is always directed to the creative mind, and when we take note as we do today, it always seems to be snowing.
It is snowing, but the runway at Midway Airport has been swept and the pilots commit to a landing.
It was snowing when she left the church, and it snowed hard all the afternoon and until far into the night.
The Sunbridge Girls at Six Star Ranch | Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) PorterMy God, how bitter the cold is; it is snowing in great heaps, and I forgot to make your fire, madame.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence | Eugne SueI will wait under the arcade there until it stops snowing, as I have some business to attend to in that locality.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence | Eugne SueIt was snowing with a vengeance when we came out—large flakes half as big as a shilling, and in places already a foot deep.
Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series | Mrs. Henry WoodWe ascended a hill and galloped on until about ten o'clock; it was snowing hard all the time.
The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Volume II (of 3) | Elliott Coues
British Dictionary definitions for snow (1 of 2)
/ (snəʊ) /
precipitation from clouds in the form of flakes of ice crystals formed in the upper atmosphere: Related adjective: niveous
a layer of snowflakes on the ground
a fall of such precipitation
anything resembling snow in whiteness, softness, etc
the random pattern of white spots on a television or radar screen, produced by noise in the receiver and occurring when the signal is weak or absent
slang cocaine
(intr; with it as subject) to be the case that snow is falling
(tr; usually passive, foll by over, under, in, or up) to cover or confine with a heavy fall of snow
(often with it as subject) to fall or cause to fall as or like snow
(tr) US and Canadian slang to deceive or overwhelm with elaborate often insincere talk: See snow job
be snowed under to be overwhelmed, esp with paperwork
Origin of snow
1Derived forms of snow
- snowless, adjective
- snowlike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Snow (2 of 2)
/ (snəʊ) /
C (harles) P (ercy), Baron. 1905–80, British novelist and physicist. His novels include the series Strangers and Brothers (1949–70)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for snow
[ snō ]
Precipitation that falls to earth in the form of ice crystals that have complex branched hexagonal patterns. Snow usually falls from stratus and stratocumulus clouds, but it can also fall from cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with snow
In addition to the idioms beginning with snow
- snow job
- snow under
also see:
- pure as the driven snow
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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