snow-line
The snow-line marks the boundary between the rocky mountainside and the permanent ice.
Definition
- Noun:
- The lower limit of permanent snow: The "snow-line" is the elevation or latitude above which snow remains on the ground throughout the year, and below which snow melts seasonally. It is also known as the permanent snow line.
Usage Examples
- (The altitude above which snow never fully melts.)
- (The boundary of permanent snow moves downward with latitude.)
- (The permanent snow boundary is shifting upward.)
Advanced Usage
- "above the snow-line": at an altitude or latitude where snow persists year-round.
- Only hardy alpine plants grow above the snow-line. (In the zone of permanent snow.)
- "below the snow-line": at an elevation where snow melts completely during summer.
- The village lies below the snow-line, so it is free of snow in the warm months. (Below the permanent snow boundary.)
Variants and Related Words
- Snowline (n): alternate spelling (same meaning).
- Snow-covered (adj): covered with snow (not a compound of "snow-line" but related).
- Timberline (n): the upper limit of tree growth, often near the snow-line.
- The timberline is usually lower than the snow-line. (Trees cannot grow above the timberline, while snow persists above the snow-line.)
Synonyms
- Permanent snow boundary: the line marking the limit of year-round snow.
- Firn line: a specific term for the boundary on a glacier where snow turns into ice (closely related but not identical).
Phrasal Verbs
- None directly associated with "snow-line".
Related Idioms
- "the snow-line of something": used metaphorically to mean the point beyond which something becomes permanent or unchanging.
- In the debate, the snow-line of agreement was reached, and no further compromise was possible. (A figurative boundary beyond which no change occurs.)