ice

/aɪs/
noun★Beginner— frozen water
◆ What It Really Means
Emotional coldness or social tension
Literal Meaning
Frozen water
Literal Breakdown
icesolid water
◇ Mental Image
A cold, hard, and often impenetrable surface.
◈ When to Use
A person might say, 'Don’t be so cold; you’re like ice,' to express emotional distance.
◉ Cultural Note
The metaphorical use of 'ice' to describe emotional detachment is common in English and other languages.
general

Water in its solid state, typically forming at temperatures below 0°C (32°F)

She skated gracefully on the ice.

She moved smoothly on the frozen surface.

💡

Ice can form naturally in cold climates or be artificially made.

figurative

A substance or object that is extremely cold or numbing

His words were like ice to her heart.

His words made her feel emotionally cold and distant.

💡

Used metaphorically to describe emotional coldness or detachment.

Collocations

ice creama sweet, frozen dessert made from dairyice cubea small, cube-shaped piece of iceiceberga large floating mass of ice in the ocean

Related Phrases

break the iceidiom
to initiate conversation in a social setting
on thin iceidiom
in a precarious or risky situation

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

Ice is often used in drinks to keep them cool.

⚡Gold Rule

Literal vs. Figurative

Distinguish between the physical substance and its metaphorical uses.

📖Word Origin

Old English 'īs', from Proto-Germanic 'īsaz', related to 'is' in Dutch and 'Eis' in German.

📝Usage Notes

In informal contexts, 'ice' can refer to diamonds (e.g., 'ice' in jewelry).

Word Breakdown

ice
frozen water
root
English Dictionary