glacial
noun
- a glacial epoch or period
adjective
- pertaining to glaciers
- extremely slow
- of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present
- devoid of warmth and cordiality
- extremely cold : frigid
- coldly imperturbable
- of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɡleɪ.sɪəl/ / /ˈɡleɪ.ʃ(ɪ)əl/
adj
Etymology: Borrowed from French glacial, from Latin glaciālis, from glaciēs (“ice”). The sense "slow" refers to the speed of actual glaciers, typically around 1 meter per day.
- Of, or relating to glaciers.
“We examined the glacial deposits.”
“Wang Shijin is a glacier expert and director of the Yulong Snow Mountain Glacial and Environmental Observation Research Station.”
- Very slow.
“He could remember a day that he had spent the whole of (he couldn't have been more than ten) running one of the great, creaking freight elevators at a glacial speed, answering the calls of the bell—one ring, five rings, three rings—with an almost unbearable sense of responsibility.”
“I understand that you commented that the Japanese are moving at glacial speed. This is not the only area where they are moving at glacial speed. They are moving at glacial speed in terms of trade barriers, and it is one thing that the American people recognize.”
- Cold and icy.
“After the rain and frost, the pavements were glacial.”
- Having the appearance of ice.
“On cold days, glacial acetic acid will freeze in the bottle.”
- Cool and unfriendly.
“He gave me a glacial stare.”
name
- Of the Pleistocene period dominated by the presence of glaciers.
noun
Etymology: Borrowed from French glacial, from Latin glaciālis, from glaciēs (“ice”). The sense "slow" refers to the speed of actual glaciers, typically around 1 meter per day.
- A glacial period (colloquially known as an ice age).