To remove ice from a surface, especially from roads, windshields, or aircraft, to prevent danger or improve function.
From de- (removal) + ice. This is a modern word created in the 20th century as winter road and air travel became common, combining a prefix meaning 'to remove' with the everyday word for frozen water.
De-icing became a critical science during World War II when aircraft icing caused crashes—now we have heated wings, salt trucks, and entire industries built around this one simple action.
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