adj.
Pronunciation: ' gl ā -sh ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin glacialis, from glacies
Date: 1656
1 : suggestive of ice: as a : extremely cold : FRIGID <a glacial wind> b : devoid of warmth and cordiality <a glacial handshake> c : coldly imperturbable <maintained a glacial calm>
2 : of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals < glacial acetic acid>
3 a (1) : of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present (2) capitalized : PLEISTOCENE b : of, relating to, or produced by glaciers c : suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers <progress on the bill has been glacial >
– gla · cial · ly \ -sh ə -l ē \ adverb