Icy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈaɪsi/

Definitions

1. Having a surface covered with ice or frost; displaying a cold, unfriendly attitude; relating to conditions of extreme coldness
2. Marked by a frozen or slippery layer of water; showing emotional coldness or aloofness; resembling or made of ice in texture or appearance
3. Characterized by a layer of ice or frost covering something; expressing a chilling or distant manner towards others; pertaining to very low temperatures or wintry environments

Etymology: The word "icy" is about as plain as English etymology gets: it is the noun "ice" with the suffix "-y", which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "characterised by" the thing named. So "icy" means something like "ice-like" or "full of ice." Its roots run deep. Old English already had "īsiġ," an adjective built the same way from "īs," the Old English word for ice, so the pairing is nearly as old as English itself. The suffix "-y" follows the same pattern in many other words, such as "snowy," "stony," and "windy," all formed by adding "-y" to a noun. "Icy" is therefore a native formation rather than a borrowing from another language, and its meaning has stayed close to its original sense of being covered with, or made of, ice.

Synonyms: frozen, chilly, cold, glacial, frigid

Antonyms: hot, warm, heated, toasty, tropical