icy
- 01 B1 Intermediate
covered with ice, which often makes a surface very slippery.
covered with or consisting of ice; frequently used to describe hazardous road or path conditions.
Simple“Be careful walking outside because the pavement is very icy this morning.”
In context“The highway patrol issued a warning after several vehicles skidded on the icy patches that had formed overnight in the shaded sections of the pass.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
feeling as cold as ice.
characterised by extreme coldness, often in relation to water or wind.
Simple“She jumped into the icy water for a quick swim.”
In context“An icy wind swept across the moor, forcing the hikers to seek shelter behind the stone ruins of an old cottage.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
acting in a way that is very cold, distant, or unfriendly.
characterised by a lack of warmth or affection; frigid or hostile in manner.
Simple“He gave me an icy stare when I interrupted his meeting.”
In context“The atmosphere in the boardroom remained icy throughout the negotiations, as neither side was willing to make the first concession.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
wearing a lot of expensive, shiny jewellery like diamonds.
adorned with an abundance of high-quality, expensive jewellery, particularly diamonds that sparkle like ice.
Simple“The rapper showed up to the awards show looking totally icy.”
In context“He walked onto the stage looking incredibly icy, with diamond chains that caught every light in the auditorium.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'iced out' or simply as 'icy' to describe a person's appearance.
Synonymsblinged outflashy
From ice + -y; cf. Old English īsiġ.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.