glacial

UK: /ˈgleɪsiəl/, /ˈgleɪʃ^əl/ US: /ˈgleɪʃəl/ ,(glā′shəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gla•cial /ˈgleɪʃəl/   adj. 

1. Geology of or relating to glaciers or ice sheets;
   resulting from or associated with the action of ice or glaciers:
   glacial terrain.
2. bitterly cold;
   icy:
   a glacial winter wind.
3. happening or moving extremely slowly:
   to work at a glacial pace.
4. coldly hostile:
   glacial contempt.

gla•cial•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gla•cial  (glā′shəl), adj. 

1. Geology of or pertaining to glaciers or ice sheets.
2. Geology resulting from or associated with the action of ice or glaciers:
   glacial terrain.
3. Geology characterized by the presence of ice in extensive masses or glaciers.
4. bitterly cold;
   icy:
   a glacial winter wind.
5. happening or moving extremely slowly:
   The work proceeded at a glacial pace.
6. icily unsympathetic or immovable:
   a glacial stare; glacial indifference.
7. Chemistry of, pertaining to, or tending to develop into icelike crystals:
   glacial phosphoric acid.

• Latin glaciālis icy, equivalent. to glaci(ēs) ice + -ālis -al¹
• 1650–60

gla′cial•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 4. chill, freezing, frigid, wintry.
• 6. forbidding, unfriendly, hostile.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

glacial / ˈɡleɪsɪəl -ʃəl/ adjective

1. characterized by the presence of masses of ice
2. relating to, caused by, or deposited by a glacier
3. extremely cold; icy
4. cold or hostile in manner
5. (of a chemical compound) of or tending to form crystals that resemble ice

ˈglacially adverb