snow-bound
Definition
- Adjective:
- Confined or blocked by snow: "snow-bound" describes a person, place, or thing that is trapped, isolated, or unable to move due to heavy snowfall. This state often applies to travelers, vehicles, or entire communities.
Usage Examples
- (They were trapped inside because snow blocked the roads.)
- (Passengers were unable to leave due to snow.)
- (The village was isolated by snow.)
Advanced Usage
"to be snow-bound": to be stuck or confined because of snow.
- We were snow-bound in the mountain lodge, relying on stored food. (We could not leave due to deep snow.)
"snow-bound conditions": weather or road situations where snow causes isolation.
- The rescue team could not reach the snow-bound hikers. (The hikers were trapped by snow.)
Variants and Related Words
Snowbound (adj, alternative spelling): same meaning as "snow-bound," but often written as a single word.
- The snowbound town received emergency supplies by helicopter. (The town was isolated by snow.)
Snow (n): frozen water vapor that falls as white flakes.
- The heavy snow made travel impossible. (Snowfall blocked roads.)
Bound (adj): confined or restricted to a place.
- The house was bound by snow on all sides. (Surrounded and trapped by snow.)
Synonyms
Snowed in: unable to leave a place because of snow.
- We were snowed in for two days. (Trapped at home by snow.)
Snowed under: overwhelmed by snow (often used figuratively).
- The driveway was snowed under. (Covered by deep snow.)
Stranded: left in a difficult situation without means of movement.
- The snow-bound hikers were stranded on the trail. (Unable to proceed or return.)
Related Idioms
Snowed under with work: overwhelmed with tasks (not directly related to snow, but shares the "snow" root).
- I am snowed under with assignments. (I have too much work to do.)
To be stuck in a snow drift: to be trapped by a pile of snow.
- The car was stuck in a snow drift, making it snow-bound. (The car was immobilized by snow.)