ice

Water that has become hard because it is very cold.

• Put some ice in my drink.
• The ice melted in the sun.
• We walked carefully across the ice.

Common phrases: ice cubes, thin ice, on ice

An uncomfortable feeling between people that makes it hard for them to talk freely.

• A joke broke the ice.
• We played a game to break the ice.
• The ice between them melted as they talked.

Similar words: awkwardness, reserve

Common phrases: break the ice, ice between people

A lack of warmth, kindness, or friendly feeling.

• There was ice in her voice.
• His eyes were full of ice.
• She seemed to have a heart of ice.

Similar words: coldness, cold-heartedness

Opposites: warmth

Common phrases: heart of ice, ice in something, voice like ice

If you do this, you cover a cake with a sweet sugar mixture.

• Let the cake cool before you ice it.
• She iced the cupcakes with chocolate frosting.
• Will you ice my birthday cake?

How to use it: ice something with something (Ice the cake with lemon icing.)

Similar words: frost

Common phrases: ice a cake, ice the cupcakes, ice with something

If you do this, you put frozen water on something to make it cold or reduce swelling.

• Ice your ankle after exercise.
• She iced her sore knee for ten minutes.
• We iced the bottles before the guests arrived.

Similar words: chill, cool

Opposites: heat

Common phrases: ice your knee, ice an injury, ice a drink

If a surface does this, it becomes covered in frozen water.

• The bridge may ice overnight.
• The pond iced over during the night.
• These steps ice up quickly in cold weather.

Similar words: freeze, freeze over

Opposites: thaw

Common phrases: ice over, ice up, ice overnight

If you do this, you deliberately kill someone.

• The gangster threatened to ice him.
• They iced the witness before the trial.
• The boss ordered someone to ice his rival.

Similar words: murder, kill

Common phrases: ice someone, ice a rival, ice a witness

If you do this, you beat an opponent by a large margin.

• Our team iced its rivals.
• She iced every opponent in the tournament.
• The candidate iced his challenger in the election.

Similar words: crush, trounce

Common phrases: ice an opponent, ice a rival, ice the competition