iceberg

ice-berg · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large mass of ice floating in the sea, having broken off from a glacier or ice shelf.

  2. 2.

    (Informal) A cold, emotionally distant person.

Forms

plural: icebergs

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    tip of the iceberg — a small evident part of a much larger issue
  • •
    iceberg lettuce — a variety of lettuce with crisp, pale green leaves

Related words

See also: arctic, glacier, ice
Synonyms: ice floe, ice mass

Etymology

From Dutch ijsberg, literally "ice mountain," from ijs ("ice") + berg ("mountain"). First recorded in English in the late 18th century.