ice
ice — verb
1. to spread a layer of sweet icing over the surface of a cake or other baked goods
to spread a layer of sweet icing over the surface of a cake or other baked goods as decoration or flavouring
Nila spent the whole morning icing the birthday cake for her son.
ice + noun phrase for decorating cakes
The baker iced the cupcakes and added tiny silver sugar balls on top.
ice + noun + additional decoration
Have you ever tried icing a cake while the surface is still warm?
Tamar plans to ice the birthday cookies with pink buttercream frosting.
The wedding cake was iced with smooth white fondant and gold details.
passive: be iced with [type of icing]
- ice a cake
- ice cupcakes
- iced with buttercream
- beautifully iced
- freshly iced
Grammar Patterns
ice + noun phrase (cake, cupcakes, cookies)
Usage Note
Frequently used with a type of icing as the object of 'with' (e.g. 'iced with chocolate ganache'). Also common in the passive form when describing a finished cake.
Common Mistakes
2. to kill a person, especially in a planned or sudden violent act (slang, original
to kill a person, especially in a planned or sudden violent act (slang, originally from criminal groups)
The witness said the gang threatened to ice anyone who talked to the police.
ice + noun phrase — slang for killing
In the crime film, the hitman iced his target with a single shot.
Two men were found iced in an abandoned warehouse near the harbour.
passive: be found iced — slang
The detective believed the mob had iced the informant before the trial date.
- ice someone
- get iced
- threaten to ice
Grammar Patterns
ice + noun phrase (someone)
Usage Note
This sense is strongly informal and associated with organised crime or gang contexts. Avoid in formal or news writing — use 'kill' or 'murder' instead.
Common Mistakes
3. in American football, to deliberately make the opposing kicker wait before attem
in American football, to deliberately make the opposing kicker wait before attempting a field goal, usually by calling a timeout, so that the pause makes success less likely
The coach called a timeout to ice the kicker before the final field goal.
ice + the kicker — American football tactic
The opposing team tried to ice the kicker by calling three timeouts in a row.
The kicker had already scored four field goals, so icing him did not change the outcome.
Fans booed loudly when the defence tried to ice the kicker right before the snap.
- ice the kicker
- try to ice
- timeout to ice
Grammar Patterns
ice + the kicker
Usage Note
Exclusive to American football. The verb takes 'kicker' as its direct object. Often occurs in the construction 'try to ice the kicker' as a deliberate team strategy.
Common Mistakes
4. the ice hockey violation that occurs when a player shoots the puck from their ow
the ice hockey violation that occurs when a player shoots the puck from their own half across the opponent's goal line without anyone touching it, stopping play and giving the other team a face-off in the offending zone
The defenseman accidentally iced the puck while trying to clear the zone.
ice + the puck — ice hockey violation
The referee stopped play because the team had iced the puck from their side.
No player substitutions are allowed after a team has iced the puck during a game.
The crowd groaned when their player iced the puck under heavy pressure.
- ice the puck
- ice it
- iced the puck
Grammar Patterns
ice + the puck
Usage Note
Always takes 'the puck' as the object. The rule is more complex in professional leagues — the penalty (face-off in the offending team's zone) may be waived if the puck goes into the net or if the team is shorthanded.
Common Mistakes
5. to become partly or completely covered with ice; to change from liquid to solid
to become partly or completely covered with ice; to change from liquid to solid ice as the temperature drops below freezing
The windshield of Darius's truck iced over during the heavy snowstorm.
phrasal verb: ice over — become covered with ice
The small pond behind the school ices over every winter for ice skating.
The wings of the plane iced up as it flew through the freezing clouds.
phrasal verb: ice up — form ice on a surface
The river had not yet iced over, so the ferry boats were still running normally.
- ice over
- ice up
- iced over
- iced up
- freeze over
more general; 'freeze over' can apply to any liquid surface, while 'ice over' implies a visible layer of ice
- freeze up
can apply to both liquids and mechanisms; 'freeze up' often suggests malfunction
Grammar Patterns
ice over
ice up
Usage Note
In British English, 'ice over' is more common for surfaces like roads or ponds; 'ice up' is preferred for mechanisms (locks, windscreens, aeroplane wings). Both patterns are intransitive — there is no direct object.
Common Mistakes
6. to make a drink, food, or container cold by putting it with or on ice, or inside
to make a drink, food, or container cold by putting it with or on ice, or inside a refrigerator
Please ice the bottles of soda before the guests arrive for the party.
transitive: ice + object for cooling
The bartender iced the tall glasses before pouring the cold beer into them.
You should ice the watermelon slices for at least an hour before serving them.
Grandma always ices the lemonade pitcher when we have our summer family dinners.
The seafood must be kept iced from the moment it is caught until sale.
passive: be kept iced — preserving with cold
- ice drinks
- ice the glasses
- keep iced
- freshly iced
Grammar Patterns
ice + noun phrase (drinks, food)
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (ICE CAKE) — this sense only lowers temperature; it does not involve spreading icing. The past participle 'iced' is common in commercial contexts ('iced coffee', 'iced tea', 'iced seafood').
Common Mistakes
ice over
phrasal verbto become covered with a layer of ice on the surface
The small lake near the village ices over completely by early December.
The front steps iced over during the night and became dangerously slippery.
ice up
phrasal verbto become blocked or covered with ice, especially on the inside or on working parts of a machine
The airplane wings started to ice up as the plane climbed through the cold clouds.
The lock on the car door iced up and I could not get the key inside.
ice — noun
1. water that becomes hard and solid when the temperature drops below the point whe
water that becomes hard and solid when the temperature drops below the point where it freezes
Vivek dropped two cubes of ice into his glass of lemonade.
collocation: cube of ice
The car skidded on a thin patch of ice near the bridge.
collocation: patch of ice
Thick ice had covered the pond, so the children went skating.
passive: be covered with ice
Apinya slipped on the ice outside the supermarket entrance.
Marta filled a plastic bag with ice to cool her sore ankle.
collocation: bag of ice
- cube of ice
- patch of ice
- block of ice
- sheet of ice
- layer of ice
- ice melts
- ice forms
- ice covers
- water
water is the liquid state after ice melts
Grammar Patterns
ice + verb
adjective + ice
ice + noun
Usage Note
Uncountable noun in most contexts. Countable only in phrases like "two ices" (ice creams) or reference to specific ice formations.
2. a substance that is normally a gas or a liquid but has been cooled into a solid
a substance that is normally a gas or a liquid but has been cooled into a solid state, especially for scientific or industrial use
The lab assistant used dry ice to keep the blood samples cold during transport.
collocation: dry ice
Dry ice turns into carbon dioxide gas without melting into a liquid first.
grammar: turn into + noun phrase
Camila wore thick gloves when she handled the block of frozen carbon dioxide.
Special containers kept the medical supplies cold with solid carbon dioxide ice.
- dry ice
- solid carbon dioxide
- frozen gas
Grammar Patterns
[substance] + ice
dry + ice
Usage Note
Frequently combined with the substance name: "dry ice" (solid CO₂) is the most common example. Almost always used as an uncountable noun in this sense.
Common Mistakes
3. in astronomy, a chemical substance such as methane or ammonia that exists as a s
in astronomy, a chemical substance such as methane or ammonia that exists as a solid in the extremely cold conditions of outer space
Scientists detected frozen methane ice on the surface of Pluto.
collocation: frozen methane ice
The spacecraft analysed the composition of ammonia ice around Saturn's rings.
Rin studied how different types of ice form on distant moons in the solar system.
Telescope images showed bright patches of nitrogen ice on the comet's surface.
collocation: nitrogen ice / methane ice / ammonia ice
- methane ice
- ammonia ice
- nitrogen ice
- water ice
- frozen volatile
Usage Note
Uncountable when referring to the substance generally; countable when distinguishing types ("the ices of Pluto"). Almost exclusively used in scientific writing about planets, moons, and comets.
4. a sweet frozen food made from milk, cream, or fruit juice, often sold in small c
a sweet frozen food made from milk, cream, or fruit juice, often sold in small containers or as a cone-shaped serving
The children each asked for a chocolate ice cream after dinner.
collocation: [flavour] + ice cream
Tomás bought two strawberry ice creams from the shop on the corner.
countable noun: 'two ice creams'
Mert ordered a bowl of vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce.
On hot summer afternoons, the ice cream shop sells hundreds of cones.
collocation: ice cream shop / ice cream cone
Sivan makes her own mango ice cream using fresh fruit and cream.
- vanilla ice cream
- chocolate ice cream
- strawberry ice cream
- ice cream cone
- ice cream shop
- bowl of ice cream
Grammar Patterns
[flavour] + ice cream
Usage Note
In Taiwan, "ice cream" (冰淇淋) is the standard term. The British shortening "an ice" for "an ice cream" is not common in Taiwan and may cause confusion.
Common Mistakes
5. diamonds or other expensive jewellery, especially in informal contexts such as h
diamonds or other expensive jewellery, especially in informal contexts such as hip-hop culture and fashion
The rapper showed off his ice, a diamond chain worth thousands of dollars.
slang: 'show off his ice'
Brian's watch was covered in ice that caught the light at every angle.
In many hip-hop songs, the word ice refers to expensive diamond jewellery.
Élise could not believe how much ice her friend wore to the awards show.
collocation: wear ice
- covered in ice
- show off ice
- wear ice
Usage Note
Highly informal slang. Rarely used in formal writing or conversation. Most common in music lyrics, fashion magazines, and casual speech about jewellery.
Common Mistakes
6. an illegal drug, especially methamphetamine in its crystallised form, also known
an illegal drug, especially methamphetamine in its crystallised form, also known as crystal meth
Police found a bag of ice in the car during the arrest of the suspect.
slang: 'bag of ice' (drug context)
The documentary showed how ice addiction destroys lives and entire communities.
Health campaigns warn young people about the serious dangers of using ice.
The rehabilitation centre helps former users break their ice habit with long-term counselling.
collocation: ice habit / break the ice habit
- bag of ice
- ice addiction
- use ice
- ice dealer
- crystal meth
crystal meth is the full name of the drug; ice is the street slang abbreviation
Usage Note
Dangerous slang sense — the word "ice" is neutral in everyday conversation, so this meaning depends heavily on context. Typically used in crime reporting, addiction treatment materials, and drug awareness discussions.
7. the US federal agency that enforces immigration rules and border regulations — f
the US federal agency that enforces immigration rules and border regulations — for example, deciding who can enter the country and taking action against those who break immigration laws.
Hassan's visa application was reviewed by ICE officers last month.
ICE + noun referring to agency personnel
The new policy requires all employers to report worker status to ICE.
ICE arrested over two hundred people during the operation across three states.
ICE as subject: active enforcement action
A federal judge ruled that ICE must provide better conditions at the detention centre.
Hao read a news article about ICE's expanding role in border security.
possessive: ICE's + role / authority
- ICE officer
- ICE agent
- ICE detention
- ICE headquarters
- ICE raid
- ICE custody
- border patrol
a different US agency (CBP) focused specifically on border crossings rather than interior immigration enforcement
- immigration authorities
a broader, more general term for any official body dealing with immigration rules
Grammar Patterns
ICE + noun (as modifier: ICE officer, ICE detention)
Usage Note
Always written in capital letters (ICE) as an acronym. Commonly appears in US news reports and legal documents concerning immigration enforcement.
Common Mistakes
8. a label used on a mobile phone for a contact number that family members, friends
a label used on a mobile phone for a contact number that family members, friends, or medical workers can call if the phone's owner is very ill or hurt in an accident.
Élise added her mother's number as her ICE contact on the phone.
ICE + contact/number: standard label for emergency entry
The paramedic checked the injured woman's phone for an ICE listing.
Emergency services encourage everyone to store an ICE number in their mobile.
store an ICE number — common public safety recommendation
When Emre collapsed at work, his colleague found the ICE entry on his phone.
The hospital staff looked for an ICE contact before calling any relatives.
- ICE contact
- ICE number
- ICE listing
- ICE entry
- ICE label
- emergency contact
the full phrase that the acronym ICE stands for; more formal and universally understood
- next of kin
a legal term for closest family members, not necessarily a designated phone contact
Grammar Patterns
ICE + noun (as modifier: ICE contact, ICE number)
Usage Note
Often stored in a phone's contact list as 'ICE' followed by a relationship or name (e.g. ICE-Mum, ICE-John). This system is widely promoted by ambulance services and first-aid organisations.
Common Mistakes
To be in a dangerous situation where you might cause trouble or fail.
Min knew she was skating on thin ice by arriving late again.
Are you walking on thin ice by asking your boss for a raise?
break the ice
idiomTo do or say something that helps people feel more comfortable with each other at the start of a meeting or event.
Sara told a funny story to break the ice at the party.
Brian asked a simple question to break the ice with his new classmates.
To have no effect or influence on someone; to fail to persuade them.
His excuses cut no ice with the strict teacher.
Diego's promises cut no ice with his disappointed parents.
on ice
idiomKept cold by being surrounded by ice; also used to mean something is delayed or stored for later use.
The drinks are on ice, ready for the guests.
We put our travel plans on ice until next summer.
ice — abbreviation
1. the three-letter international code that represents Iceland, used on vehicle reg
the three-letter international code that represents Iceland, used on vehicle registration plates, shipping containers, and travel documents to show the country of origin.
At Keflavík Airport the rental car had ICE on its plates for Iceland.
ICE as vehicle registration country code
When Marco flew to Reykjavík, his ticket showed ICE as the airline code.
The shipping container from Iceland displayed the letters ICE above the country's flag.
Min noticed the ICE sticker on her passport from the trip to the Blue Lagoon.
ICE as country mark on documents
- ICE code
- ICE plates
- ICE mark
Grammar Patterns
ICE as country code on vehicles/documents
Usage Note
Always written in capital letters as three separate characters. Like other ISO country codes, ICE is treated as a proper noun and does not take an article ('the ICE').
2. a short name for the United States agency that enforces immigration rules and co
a short name for the United States agency that enforces immigration rules and controls the movement of goods and people across American borders.
Officers from ICE arrived at the warehouse to inspect the imported goods.
ICE + verb for agency actions
The ICE investigation into the smuggling ring took nearly eighteen months.
ICE as modifier before noun
Luca's visa application was reviewed by an ICE official at the port of entry.
The new policy from ICE changed how companies check their employees' documents.
- ICE agent
- ICE official
- ICE investigation
- ICE enforcement
- ICE policy
Grammar Patterns
ICE as agency name
ICE + noun (agent/official/investigation)
Usage Note
In US news and government writing, ICE is treated as a proper noun and does not need an article ('ICE announced…' not 'The ICE announced…'). When referring to individual officers, the phrase 'ICE agent' or 'ICE official' is standard.
Common Mistakes
3. a label for a person's phone number stored on a mobile device so that emergency
a label for a person's phone number stored on a mobile device so that emergency workers can call someone close to the phone's owner if the owner is hurt.
Yuki saved her sister's number under ICE in her mobile phone contacts.
saved under ICE in phone contacts
The paramedic checked the injured man's phone for any ICE contacts.
Hugo added an ICE entry to his mother's phone before her trip abroad.
ICE entry in phone
Most smartphones let users set an ICE contact that appears on the lock screen.
The hospital staff always check for an ICE number on a patient's phone.
- ICE contact
- ICE number
- ICE entry
- save as ICE
- under ICE
- emergency contact
the full phrase rather than the acronym label
Grammar Patterns
ICE + noun (contact/number)
save as ICE
under ICE
Usage Note
ICE is used as a label in phone contact lists. When spoken, each letter is pronounced separately (/aɪ siː iː/). This is not a standard English word but a widely recognised emergency protocol.
Common Mistakes
4. a type of engine that produces power by burning fuel inside closed cylinders, us
a type of engine that produces power by burning fuel inside closed cylinders, used in most cars, motorcycles, and many machines.
The mechanic explained how an ICE burns fuel to turn the wheels of a car.
an ICE as a countable noun
Unlike electric motors, an ICE makes power by exploding fuel inside its cylinders.
Mert's old motorcycle has a small ICE that still runs surprisingly well.
Many car manufacturers are moving away from the ICE toward electric vehicles.
The garden lawnmower's ICE needed a new spark plug to start again.
the ICE with definite article
- an ICE
- the ICE
- ICE vehicle
- ICE technology
- ICE parts
- combustion engine
less specific, can refer to external combustion engines too
- electric motor
a motor powered by electricity rather than fuel
Grammar Patterns
an ICE
the ICE
ICE + noun (vehicle/technology)
Usage Note
Unlike other senses of ICE, this one is a countable noun and regularly takes articles ('an ICE', 'the ICE'). In technical writing, the plural 'ICEs' is sometimes used.
Common Mistakes
5. a programme or agreement that allows people from different countries to visit on
a programme or agreement that allows people from different countries to visit one another, sharing their art, music, traditions, and daily life.
Noa joined an ICE programme that sent her to teach music in Japan.
ICE programme as a countable noun phrase
The school received funding from an ICE project to host students from Brazil.
Through an ICE agreement, artists from Senegal came to exhibit at the city gallery.
ICE agreement — specific type of cultural exchange deal
The ICE festival brought dancers from six different countries to perform together on stage.
Rachel's time in the ICE programme helped her learn traditional Korean pottery.
- ICE programme
- ICE project
- ICE agreement
- ICE festival
- through ICE
- cultural exchange
the full phrase rather than the acronym
Grammar Patterns
ICE + noun (program/project/agreement)
via/through ICE
Usage Note
This abbreviation is typically used as part of a larger programme name rather than standing alone. When referred to without the full name, it often takes an article ('an ICE programme').
ice — noun suffix
1. A group of letters (-ice) found at the end of some English words of French or La
A group of letters (-ice) found at the end of some English words of French or Latin origin, turning an adjective or verb into a noun that refers to a quality, state, or action — for example, 'just' becomes 'justice', 'serve' becomes 'service', and 'coward' becomes 'cowardice'.
The students admired the judge's commitment to justice for everyone in the community.
-ice in 'justice' (quality of being just)
Lien ordered room service after a long day of meetings at the hotel.
-ice in 'service' (act of serving)
Kofi's piano practice every evening helped him win the school talent show.
-ice in 'practice' (act of practising)
The captain called the retreat an act of cowardice on the battlefield.
A notice on the library door announced the new opening hours for everyone.
-ice in 'notice' (act or result of notifying)
Grammar Patterns
[adjective] + ice → noun (e.g., just → justice, coward → cowardice)
[verb] + ice → noun (e.g., serve → service, practise → practice)
Usage Note
The -ice suffix is not productive in modern English — learners will not be able to freely attach it to new words. It is best treated as a recognisable pattern in borrowed vocabulary, so memorising common -ice nouns (justice, service, practice, cowardice, notice, malice, avarice, artifice) is more useful than trying to form new words with it.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These four words describe forms of frozen water but differ in how they form and where they appear. 'Ice' is the general term for water frozen solid — on a lake, in cubes, or as a sheet on roads. 'Frost' is a white, feathery coating of tiny ice crystals that forms on surfaces (windows, grass, car roofs) when water vapour in the air freezes directly; it is a surface deposit, not a solid mass. 'Hail' consists of round or irregular pellets of ice that fall from the sky during thunderstorms — it is precipitation, not a ground-level formation. 'Sleet' is a mixture of rain and snow that freezes into small, semi-transparent ice pellets before hitting the ground; it is often slushy rather than solid. 'Glaze' (in weather contexts) is a thin, smooth, transparent coating of ice on roads, trees, or power lines, formed when freezing rain hits a cold surface. For example: 'The pond is covered with a thick layer of ice.' / 'A light frost dusted the car windscreen this morning.' / 'The hailstorm left white pellets all over the garden.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- block of ice
- sheet of ice
- patch of ice
- cube of ice
- bag of ice
Phrases
- break the ice
- cut no ice
- skate on thin ice
- put on ice
- keep on ice
- ice cold
Prepositions
- on ice
- in ice
- through ice
- under ice
- with ice
Etymology
The word 'ice' (frozen water) descends from Old English īs, from Proto-Germanic *īsą, and from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eyH-. Cognates include Old Norse íss, Old High German īs, and Gothic eis, all referring to ice as a substance. The noun-forming suffix -ice (as in justice, service, cowardice, notice) has a completely separate origin — it comes from Latin -itia/-itium via Old French -ice, used to form abstract nouns from adjectives and verbs. The abbreviation senses (ICE = Immigration and Customs Enforcement, established 2003; ICE = In Case of Emergency, popularised in the UK in 2005; ICE = Internal Combustion Engine, a 20th-century engineering term) are modern acronymic formations unrelated to the Germanic root.