permafrost

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpɜːməˌfrɒst/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈpɝməˌfrɔst, -ˌfrɑst/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(pûr′mə frôst′, -frost′)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
per•ma•frost /ˈpɜrməˌfrɔst, -ˌfrɑst/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. Geography(in arctic or subarctic regions) permanently frozen soil under the first layer of soil.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
per•ma•frost  (pûr′mə frôst′, -frost′),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Geography, Place Names(in arctic or subarctic regions) perennially frozen subsoil. Also called pergelisol. 
  • perma(nent) + frost 1943

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
permafrost / ˈpɜːməˌfrɒst/
  1. ground that is permanently frozen, often to great depths, the surface sometimes thawing in the summer
Etymology: 20th Century: from perma( nent) + frost
'permafrost' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
active layer - frostline - pergelisol - permafrost table - pingo - utilidor

Forum discussions with the word(s) "permafrost" in the title:


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