glacial period: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Academic, Technical, Occasionally Figurative
Quick answer
What does “glacial period” mean?
A period of time during an ice age when glaciers cover large parts of the Earth's surface, characterized by cooler global temperatures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A period of time during an ice age when glaciers cover large parts of the Earth's surface, characterized by cooler global temperatures.
In casual use, can describe any era or situation characterized by extreme coldness, slowness, or lack of warmth or progress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Ice age' is more common in general conversation in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally technical and scientific in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in everyday speech, used primarily in academic/scientific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “glacial period” in a Sentence
The [LAST/PLEISTOCENE] glacial period [VERB: ended/occurred/peaked].During the glacial period, [NOUN PHRASE: ice sheets/mammals/climate].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glacial period” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [N/A as a verb phrase]
American English
- [N/A as a verb phrase]
adverb
British English
- [N/A as an adverb phrase]
American English
- [N/A as an adverb phrase]
adjective
British English
- The glacial-period climate was harsh and dry.
American English
- Researchers studied glacial-period ecosystems.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
[Rare, Figurative] 'Sales growth hit a glacial period last quarter.'
Academic
Primary usage. 'Sediment cores provide data on flora during the last glacial period.'
Everyday
[Rare] Usually replaced by 'ice age'. 'It's so cold, feels like a glacial period out there!'
Technical
Precise term in geology, climatology, and archaeology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glacial period”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glacial period”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glacial period”
- Using 'glacial period' to mean any very cold weather event (e.g., a cold snap).
- Confusing 'glacial' (related to ice) with 'global' (worldwide).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In precise terms, an 'ice age' is a longer epoch containing alternating 'glacial periods' (cold) and 'interglacial periods' (warmer). In casual use, they are often used interchangeably.
Yes, to describe something extremely slow-moving, cold in atmosphere, or stagnant, e.g., 'Relations between the two departments are in a glacial period.'
The phrase itself can be used attributively (e.g., glacial-period climates). The word 'glacial' is the related adjective.
British English typically uses /ˈɡleɪ.si.əl/ (three syllables). American English often uses /ˈɡleɪ.ʃəl/ (two syllables).
A period of time during an ice age when glaciers cover large parts of the Earth's surface, characterized by cooler global temperatures.
Glacial period is usually academic, technical, occasionally figurative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Figurative] The negotiations entered a glacial period.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GLACIER covering a PERIOD of time on a calendar.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A LANDSCAPE (specifically a cold, icy, slow-moving one).
Practice
Quiz
What is the direct antonym of 'glacial period' in scientific terminology?