Icebergs

/ˈaɪsbɜːɡz/ noun

Definition

Large masses of ice that break off from glaciers and float in the ocean, with most of their volume hidden underwater.

Etymology

From Dutch 'ijsberg' (ice mountain), combining 'ijs' (ice) and 'berg' (mountain). The term became widely used in English after the 18th century as arctic exploration increased.

Kelly Says

The Titanic disaster made icebergs famous, but what's wild is that only about 10-15% of an iceberg is visible above water due to physics—ice is less dense than seawater, so it floats with most of its bulk submerged.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.