Ice crystals: meaning, definitions and examples

When referring to tiny, individual pieces of ice that can form in the atmosphere or on surfaces such as windows. This is more scientific or specific.

• Ice crystals formed on the windowpane during the cold night
• Scientists observed the formation of ice crystals in the upper atmosphere

When talking about the unique, individual pieces of snow that fall from the sky. This term often evokes a sense of beauty or delicacy.

• The children were excited to catch snowflakes on their tongues
• Each snowflake that landed on my glove had a unique shape

When describing a thin layer of ice that forms on surfaces when the temperature drops below freezing. This word is commonly used to describe the condition on a cold morning.

• The grass was covered in frost when I woke up early
• The car windows were difficult to see through because of the frost

Ice crystals are used to describe small, often microscopic formations of ice that resemble tiny shards or flakes. This term is common in scientific contexts or when talking about specific types of weather, such as ice fog or the formation of frost.

• Scientists studied the formation of ice crystals in the lab.
• The cold air caused ice crystals to form on the window.

Ice shards describe larger, jagged pieces of ice that could break off from something larger like a frozen lake or glacier. This term is often used in more dramatic contexts or when talking about dangerous situations involving ice.

• The ice shards from the broken glacier posed a threat to the nearby village.
• Be careful not to step on those ice shards; they can be very sharp.

Frost usually refers to a thin layer of ice that forms on surfaces when the temperature drops below freezing point. It is commonly used in everyday language when talking about cold mornings or nights and can affect various surfaces like grass, cars, and windows.

• There was a light frost on the grass this morning.
• We need to cover the plants to protect them from frost.