meltwater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Scientific / Environmental
Quick answer
What does “meltwater” mean?
Water that comes from melting ice or snow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Water that comes from melting ice or snow.
Water resulting from the thawing of glaciers, ice sheets, snowfields, or seasonal snowpack, often a significant component of hydrological systems and a focus in climate change studies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling remains the same (one word).
Connotations
Identical technical/scientific connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard in relevant technical fields (glaciology, hydrology, climate science) in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “meltwater” in a Sentence
[meltwater] + from + [source][source] + meltwatermeltwater + [verb e.g., flows, forms, contributes]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in sectors like environmental consulting or water resource management.
Academic
Common in earth sciences, geography, environmental studies, and climate research papers.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation; might be used in news reports about climate change or flooding.
Technical
Standard term in glaciology, hydrology, and climatology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meltwater”
- Misspelling as two words: 'melt water'.
- Using it to refer to any melted liquid (e.g., melted butter).
- Confusing it with 'freshwater' (which is a broader category).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word: meltwater.
Technically yes, but the term is almost exclusively used for natural, large-scale sources like glaciers, snowfields, or ice sheets.
'Snowmelt' refers specifically to water from melting snow. 'Meltwater' is a broader term that includes water from melting snow, glaciers, ice sheets, and other ice masses.
Yes, meltwater from snow and land-based ice is fresh. Meltwater from sea ice can be brackish initially but becomes fresher as the salt drains away.
Water that comes from melting ice or snow.
Meltwater is usually technical / scientific / environmental in register.
Meltwater: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛltˌwɔːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛltˌwɔːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a chocolate bar MELTING in the sun and the WATER that pools around it. Meltwater is the water from melting ice.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLIMATE CHANGE IS A RELEASE OF MELTWATER (e.g., 'the meltwater of polar indifference').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'meltwater' most precisely and frequently used?