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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Ice Meaning, Uses & Common Idioms Explained (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：frozen water (ice)

ice 🔊

/aɪs/

n., v.

Water that has become solid because it is very cold.

Ice cubes in a glass of water close-up view

frozen water 🔊

➕

/ˈfroʊzən ˈwɔːtər/

n., v.

Water that has frozen into a solid state due to low temperature.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old English 'īs', from Proto-Germanic *īsą; related to Dutch ijs, German Eis.

💡 Mnemonic

Ice rhymes with 'nice' – adding ice makes your drink nice and cold.

📖 Example

I added a few cubes of ice to my lemonade to make it colder. 🔊 I added a few cubes of ice to my lemonade to make it colder.

🔗 Collocations

ice cube – a small block of ice used for cooling drinks

ice cream – a frozen dessert made from dairy products

ice skating – the activity of moving on ice using skates

🔄 Synonyms

frost (n.) – a thin layer of ice crystals formed on surfaces

hail (n.) – pellets of frozen rain

glacier (n.) – a large mass of ice moving slowly over land

🚫 Antonyms

steam (n.) – water in the form of vapor

fire (n.) – a chemical reaction that produces heat and light

🌱 Derivatives

icy (adj.) – covered with ice or extremely cold

icicle (n.) – a hanging piece of ice formed by dripping water

icebound (adj.) – surrounded or obstructed by ice

📖 Cultural Story

Ice derives from Old English 'īs'. The idiom 'break the ice' originated in the 17th century from shipping, where ice-breaking vessels cleared paths for other ships.

Meaning 2：break the ice (ice)

ice 🔊

/aɪs/

n., v.

To do or say something to make people in a new or awkward situation feel more relaxed and willing to talk.

Group of people breaking the ice in a meeting

break the ice 🔊

➕

/breɪk ði aɪs/

n., v.

To initiate conversation or ease tension in a social situation.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

To break the ice at the beginning of the meeting, the manager shared a funny story about his first day at work. 🔊 To break the ice at the beginning of the meeting, the manager shared a funny story about his first day at work.

🔗 Collocations

break the ice with – to begin a conversation with someone to reduce awkwardness

icebreaker activity – a game or exercise designed to help people get to know each other

break the ice at a party – to start social interaction at a party

🔄 Synonyms

get the ball rolling (phrase) – to initiate an activity or conversation

initiate conversation (phrase) – to start a dialogue

warm up the room (phrase) – to make a social environment more comfortable

🚫 Antonyms

clam up (phrase) – to become silent and unwilling to speak

freeze up (phrase) – to become nervous and unable to communicate

🌱 Derivatives

icebreaker (n.) – an activity or question used to initiate conversation in a group