SUFFIX -ic
forms adjectives that indicate that something or someone is connected with a particular thing. For example, photographic equipment is equipment connected with photography.
SUFFIX -ication
forms nouns that refer to a state or process, or to an instance of that process. For example, multiplication is the process of multiplying numbers.
ice ◆◆◇ /a I s/ (ices , icing , iced )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Ice is frozen water. □ Glaciers are moving rivers of ice. □ …a bitter lemon with ice.
2 VERB If you ice a cake, you cover it with icing. □ [V n] I've iced and decorated the cake.
3 → see also iced , icing
4 PHRASE If you break the ice at a party or meeting, or in a new situation, you say or do something to make people feel relaxed and comfortable.
5 → see also ice-breaker
6 PHRASE If you say that something cuts no ice with you, you mean that you are not impressed or influenced by it. □ [+ with ] That sort of romantic attitude cuts no ice with money-men.
7 PHRASE If someone puts a plan or project on ice , they delay doing it. □ The deal was put on ice for three months.
8 PHRASE If you say that someone is on thin ice or is skating on thin ice , you mean that they are doing something risky which may have serious or unpleasant consequences. □ I had skated on thin ice and, so far, got away with it.
I ce Age N‑PROPER The Ice Age was a period of time lasting many thousands of years, during which a lot of the Earth's surface was covered with ice.
ice|berg /a I sbɜː r g/ (icebergs )
1 N‑COUNT An iceberg is a large tall mass of ice floating in the sea.
2 the tip of the iceberg → see tip WORD HISTORY iceberg
The word iceberg comes from the Dutch word ijsberg , ijs meaning 'ice', and berg meaning 'mountain'.
ice-blue COLOUR Ice-blue is a very pale blue colour. [LITERARY ]
ice|box /a I sbɒks/ (iceboxes ) also ice-box N‑COUNT An icebox is the same as a refrigerator . [AM , OLD-FASHIONED ]
i ce-breaker (ice-breakers ) also icebreaker
1 N‑COUNT An ice-breaker is a large ship which sails through frozen waters, breaking the ice as it goes, in order to create a passage for other ships.
2 N‑COUNT An ice-breaker is something that someone says or does in order to make it easier for people who have never met before to talk to each other. □ This exercise can be quite a useful ice-breaker for new groups.
i ce buck|et (ice buckets ) N‑COUNT An ice bucket is a container which holds ice cubes or cold water and ice. You can use it to provide ice cubes to put in drinks, or to put bottles of wine in and keep the wine cool.
i ce cap (ice caps ) also ice-cap N‑COUNT The ice caps are the thick layers of ice and snow that cover the North and South Poles.
i ce-co ld
1 ADJ If you describe something as ice-cold , you are emphasizing that it is very cold. □ …jugs of ice-cold water.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as ice-cold , you are emphasizing that they do not allow their emotions to affect them or that they lack feeling and friendliness. □ …the gunman's ice-cold stare.
i ce-coo l ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as ice-cool , you admire them because they are calm and do not show emotion in difficult situations. [JOURNALISM , APPROVAL ] □ He's determined, fearless, ice-cool and has a unique style that can't be copied.
i ce crea m (ice creams ) also ice-cream
1 N‑VAR Ice cream is a very cold sweet food which is made from frozen cream or a substance like cream and has a flavour such as vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. □ I'll get you some ice cream.
2 N‑COUNT An ice cream is an amount of ice cream sold in a small container or a cone made of thin biscuit. □ Do you want an ice cream?
i ce cube (ice cubes ) N‑COUNT An ice cube is a small square block of ice that you put into a drink in order to make it cold.
iced /a I st/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] An iced drink has been made very cold, often by putting ice in it. □ …iced tea.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An iced cake is covered with a layer of icing. □ We were all given little iced cakes.
i ce floe (ice floes ) N‑COUNT An ice floe is a large area of ice floating in the sea.
i ce hock|ey also ice-hockey N‑UNCOUNT Ice hockey is a game played on ice between two teams of 11 players who use long curved sticks to hit a small rubber disk, called a puck, and try to score goals. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use hockey
Ice|land|er /a I slændə r / (Icelanders ) N‑COUNT An Icelander is a person who comes from Iceland.
Ice|land|ic /a I slæ nd I k/
1 ADJ Icelandic means belonging or relating to Iceland, or to its people, language, or culture.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Icelandic is the official language of Iceland.
i ce lo l|ly (ice lollies ) also ice-lolly N‑COUNT An ice lolly is a piece of flavoured ice or ice cream on a stick. [BRIT ] in AM, use Popsicle
i ce pack (ice packs ) N‑COUNT An ice pack is a bag full of ice which is used to cool parts of the body when they are injured or painful.