Hypertext Webster Gateway: "glacial"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Glacial \Gla"cial\, a. [L. glacialis, from glacies ice: cf. F.
glacial.]
1. Pertaining to ice or to its action; consisting of ice;
frozen; icy; esp., pertaining to glaciers; as, glacial
phenomena. --Lyell.
2. (Chem.) Resembling ice; having the appearance and
consistency of ice; -- said of certain solid compounds;
as, glacial phosphoric or acetic acids.
{Glacial acid} (Chem.), an acid of such strength or purity as
to crystallize at an ordinary temperature, in an icelike
form; as acetic or carbolic acid.
{Glacial drift} (Geol.), earth and rocks which have been
transported by moving ice, land ice, or icebergs; bowlder
drift.
{Glacial} {epoch or period} (Geol.), a period during which
the climate of the modern temperate regions was polar, and
ice covered large portions of the northern hemisphere to
the mountain tops.
{Glacial} {theory or hypothesis}. (Geol.) See {Glacier
theory}, under {Glacier}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
glacial
adj 1: relating to or derived from a glacier; "glacial deposit"
2: devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of
unfriendliness or disdain; "a frigid greeting"; "got a
frosty reception"; "a frozen look on their faces"; "a
glacial handshake"; "icy stare"; "wintry smile" [syn: {frigid},
{frosty}, {frozen}, {icy}, {wintry}]
3: extremely cold; "an arctic climate"; "let's get inside; I'm
freezing"; "a frigid day"; "gelid waters of the North
Atlantic"; "glacial winds"; "icy hands"; "polar weather"
[syn: {arctic}, {freezing}, {frigid}, {gelid}, {icy}, {polar}]
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