Ice

/aɪs/ noun, verb

Definition

As a noun, ice is water that has frozen into a solid, usually because the temperature is at or below 0°C (32°F). As a verb, to ice can mean to cover something with ice, to decorate a cake with sweet icing, or in slang, to kill or defeat someone.

Etymology

From Old English "īs," related to Old Norse "ís" and German "Eis," all meaning "ice." These words go back to ancient roots connected with cold and freezing.

Kelly Says

Ice is less dense than liquid water, which is why it floats—and that weird quirk helps keep lakes from freezing solid and killing everything inside. A thin layer of ice on top acts like a blanket, protecting the water and life below.

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