shelf ice

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Word: Shelf Ice

Definition:
Shelf ice is a type of ice that forms near the land and extends out over the water. It is attached to the shore but can float on the sea, often seen in cold regions like the Arctic and Antarctic.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Countability: Usually uncountable (we generally use it as "shelf ice" without an "s" at the end)

Example:

• "During our trip to Antarctica, we saw large pieces of shelf ice that looked like giant floating platforms."

Advanced Usage:

• In scientific or environmental contexts, you might hear about the melting of shelf ice and its impact on global sea levels. For example:
  • "The rapid melting of shelf ice in Greenland is a major concern for climate scientists."

Word Variants:

• Shelf: A flat surface that can hold objects; can also refer to a layer of land that is flat and extends outward.
• Ice: A solid form of water that occurs when temperatures drop below freezing.

Different Meanings:

• "Shelf" can also refer to a piece of furniture for storing items, like books or decorative objects.
• "Ice" can refer to frozen water in general, or to a cold drink (like "ice tea").

Synonyms:

• Ice shelf: This is often used interchangeably with shelf ice, though technically, an ice shelf is a large area of thick ice that is attached to the land but floats on the ocean.

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "shelf ice," you might encounter phrases like:
  • "On thin ice," which means being in a risky or dangerous situation, similar to how shelf ice can be unstable.

Summary:

Understanding "shelf ice" helps in learning about geography and climate science, especially in discussions about polar regions.

Academic

Noun

1. ice that is attached to land but projects out to sea

Synonyms

• ice shelf