water ice

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noun

ice formed by direct freezing of fresh or salt water, and not by compacting of snow.

a frozen dessert, similar to sherbet, made of water, sweetener, and fruit syrup or other flavorings.

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Origin of water ice

First recorded in 1810–20

Words nearby water ice

water hen, water hog, water hole, Waterhouse, water hyacinth, water ice, water-inch, wateriness, watering, watering can, watering hole

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

ABOUT THIS WORD

What does water ice mean?

Water ice is a frozen dessert, very similar to Italian ice, made in Philadelphia.

How is water ice pronounced?

[ waw-ter ahys ]

Where does water ice come from?

Italian ice is the name of an Italian frozen dessert, like a sorbet or snow cone, made from water and fruit.

The Philadelphia version of this dessert goes back to the late 19th century when the city experienced a large influx of Italian immigrants. These new arrivals began selling Italian ice to the locals.

In 1945, John’s Water Ice opened to sell the dessert. The establishment makes no claim to the name water ice. It also listed the item on the menu without explanation, suggesting water ice had already become a local name for the food.

How is water ice used in real life?

Water ice is a Philadelphia regionalism, most commonly used by residents of the area and people who live near it, including New Jersey and Delaware.

I go to a family party in Jersey and bring quarts of water ice as a South Philly peace offering.

— Gi (@Gi_xx_) August 13, 2016

it’s that time of year for the best philly regional delicacy that’s right baby, water ice

— jesse (@_jorts_) May 4, 2018

Happy #FactFriday! Did you know that Pennsylvania is home of the cheesesteak sandwich, water ice, soft pretzels and TastyKakes? Yum!🧀🥩🥨 https://t.co/hmRguYytqG pic.twitter.com/4vV8gXxm8j

— Woodmont Ridge (@WoodmontRidge) October 12, 2018

More examples of water ice:

“Philadelphia may be best known for its greasy cheesesteaks and technicolored water ice, but there’s so much more to eat in the City of Brotherly Love.”
—Regan Stephens, Eater, September 2018

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.

How to use water ice in a sentence

Whether or not water ice is stable on the Moon is determined entirely by sunlight exposure.
Mapping the ice on Mars that could support future missions|John Timmer|February 9, 2021|Ars Technica
Spacecraft had seen evidence of water ice in permanently shadowed craters.
There’s water on sunny parts of the moon, scientists confirm|Maria Temming|November 24, 2020|Science News For Students
In lab experiments, water ice samples bombarded with electrons all gave off photons, or light particles, of many different wavelengths.
Jupiter’s icy moon Europa may glow in the dark|Maria Temming|November 9, 2020|Science News
NASA suggests there’s as much as 600 million metric tons of water ice there, which could someday help lunar colonists survive.
Water on the moon should be more accessible than we thought|Neel Patel|October 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review

There they could check the soil for resources like water ice or explore other similar areas.
Wiggly wheels might help rovers plow through loose lunar soils|Maria Temming|June 26, 2020|Science News For Students
Fluoride first entered an American water supply through a rather inelegant technocratic scheme.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
When cities started adding chlorine to their water supplies, in the early 1900s, it set off public outcry.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Before anti-vaxxers, there were anti-fluoriders: a group who spread fear about the anti-tooth decay agent added to drinking water.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Placed in drinking water, fluoride can serve people who otherwise have poor access to dental care.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
In secret, before the referendum, the council went ahead and fluoridated the water anyway.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Urbanity ushers in water that needs no apology, and gives a zest to the worst vintage.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
The two women had no intention of bathing; they had just strolled down to the beach for a walk and to be alone and near the water.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Mrs. Woodbury paints in oils and water-colors; the latter are genre scenes, and among them are several Dutch subjects.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
He leant against the wall of his refuge, notwithstanding this boast, and licked the ice to moisten his parched lips.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
But there was a breeze blowing, a choppy, stiff wind that whipped the water into froth.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for water ice

water ice

noun

an ice cream made from a frozen sugar syrup flavoured with fruit juice or purée; sorbet

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