clear ice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Meteorological / Nautical
Quick answer
What does “clear ice” mean?
A transparent, dense, and hard form of ice, often formed by freezing of pure water without air bubbles or snow inclusions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A transparent, dense, and hard form of ice, often formed by freezing of pure water without air bubbles or snow inclusions.
An atmospheric ice formation, also known as glaze ice or black ice, that forms when supercooled water droplets freeze rapidly on a surface, creating a smooth, transparent, and often very slippery coating.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both dialects, 'clear ice' is the standard technical term for the transparent glaze from freezing rain. However, in casual American English, 'black ice' is a more common synonym for the hazardous road condition. In UK casual speech, 'black ice' and 'glaze ice' are also used, with 'clear ice' being slightly more formal.
Connotations
Primarily negative and dangerous in weather/road/aviation contexts (slippery, hazardous). Neutral or descriptive in scientific contexts (glaciology, geology).
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but spikes in usage during winter weather events and in specific technical fields like aviation safety and meteorology.
Grammar
How to Use “clear ice” in a Sentence
[clear ice] + verb (forms, accumulates, coats)verb (cause, create, produce) + [clear ice]preposition (of, from, on) + [clear ice]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clear ice” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The wings began to clear ice rapidly during the descent.
- The roads may clear ice by mid-morning if the sun comes out.
American English
- The freezing rain is expected to clear ice on trees and power lines.
- De-icing fluid helps clear ice from the aircraft's surfaces.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in risk assessments, logistics, and transport company advisories regarding winter delays and safety.
Academic
Used in meteorology, climatology, aviation science, and earth sciences papers.
Everyday
Used in weather forecasts and warnings about dangerous travel conditions.
Technical
Precise term in aviation (icing manuals), road maintenance, and meteorological reports.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clear ice”
- Pronouncing it as one word 'clearice'.
- Confusing it with 'ice clear' (which is not a standard term).
- Using it to describe any ice on a windshield.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the context of road hazards, they are often used synonymously. 'Black ice' is the more common everyday term because the ice is transparent and shows the black road beneath it. 'Clear ice' is the more formal, technical term.
Yes, if you freeze very pure, still water (like boiled water that's cooled) in a controlled way, you can produce clear ice cubes without the cloudy air bubbles. This is a different, non-hazardous application of the term.
It is dense, heavy, and adheres strongly to surfaces. It changes the shape of wings and propellers, disrupting smooth airflow and reducing lift, while also adding significant weight.
The main meteorological opposite is 'rime ice.' Rime ice is white, opaque, and granular because it forms from tiny, supercooled droplets that freeze instantly, trapping air. It is less dense and often easier to remove than clear ice.
A transparent, dense, and hard form of ice, often formed by freezing of pure water without air bubbles or snow inclusions.
Clear ice is usually technical / meteorological / nautical in register.
Clear ice: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɪər ˈaɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɪr ˈaɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"A sheet of clear ice" (describing the extent of the hazard)”
- “"As slick as clear ice" (simile for extreme slipperiness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CLEAR the runway' – pilots must clear it of dangerous CLEAR ICE. The ice is CLEAR, so you can see the road/runway through it, making it deceptively dangerous.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ROAD/AIRCRAFT IS AN UNSTABLE SURFACE (when coated with clear ice). DANGER IS INVISIBLE / TRANSPARENT THREAT.
Practice
Quiz
In a standard meteorological report, 'clear ice' is most closely associated with which weather phenomenon?