ice
She slipped on the ice and hurt her knee.
The sentence describes an accident caused by slipping on a slippery surface made of frozen water.
Water frozen into a solid state
The lake was covered in thick ice during winter.
The lake's surface turned into a solid layer of frozen water.
She put ice cubes in her drink to keep it cold.
Small pieces of frozen water were added to chill the beverage.
Ice is typically colorless or blue-tinted when pure. It forms at 0°C (32°F) under standard pressure.
Slang for diamonds or jewelry
She wore so much ice at the party that everyone noticed.
She wore an excessive amount of diamond jewelry.
Common in hip-hop culture and rap lyrics.
Slang for methamphetamine
The police seized a large quantity of ice during the raid.
The police confiscated a significant amount of methamphetamine.
Derogatory term; avoid using unless in appropriate contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Pronunciation Tip
Remember that 'ice' is pronounced with a long 'i' sound (/aɪs/), like the word 'eyes'. The 'c' is silent.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative Meaning
Distinguish between the literal meaning (frozen water) and figurative uses (e.g., 'ice' as slang for diamonds or drugs). Context determines the intended sense.
Word Origin
Old English īs, from Proto-Germanic *īsą (source also of Old Norse íss, Dutch ijs, German Eis), from Proto-Indo-European *eis- 'to freeze'. Related to Latin gelū 'frost' and Greek khión 'snow'.
Usage Notes
Ice is commonly used metaphorically in phrases like 'ice-cold' (very cold) or 'on thin ice' (in a risky situation). In sports, 'ice' refers to the playing surface in ice hockey or figure skating.