Ice vs. Slush — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 3, 2024
Ice is solid, frozen water forming at 0°C or below, ideal for cooling drinks, while slush is a semi-liquid mixture of water and ice, found in melting conditions.
Difference Between Ice and Slush
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Ice, typically found in solid state, is clear and hard, used extensively in cooling systems and beverages. Slush, on the other hand, consists of a mushy and semi-liquid mixture of ice and water, often seen on roads during snowy weather.
Ice maintains a stable solid form that makes it suitable for storage in freezers, whereas slush is transient and forms in fluctuating temperatures.
Ice is ideal for activities such as ice skating and preserving perishable goods, while slush can make such activities hazardous due to its slippery nature.
Ice cubes are a staple in refrigeration technology, essential for air conditioning and cold chain logistics; slush is more commonly encountered in nature and less utilized in industrial applications.
Ice sculptures showcase artistic craftsmanship, often used in celebrations, highlighting the material's ability to hold shapes; slush is rarely used artistically due to its instability and fleeting form.
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Comparison Chart
State
Solid
Semi-liquid mixture
Formation Temperature
0°C or below
Just above 0°C to below 0°C
Uses
Cooling drinks, ice skating, preservation
Seen on roads, in beverages like slushies
Stability
Stable and hard
Transient and mushy
Visibility
Clear and transparent
Opaque and cloudy
Compare with Definitions
Ice
Solid form of water produced by freezing.
She added ice to her lemonade to cool it down.
Slush
Informal term for a type of frozen dessert.
They enjoyed a strawberry slush on a hot day.
Ice
Naturally occurring outdoor surface for winter sports.
The lake had frozen solid, perfect for ice skating.
Slush
Snow that partially melts and refreezes.
Walking through the slush was exhausting and wet.
Ice
Condition of having visible frozen water vapor.
Ice formed on the window during the cold night.
Slush
Semi-liquid mixture of ice particles and water.
The driveway was covered in slush after the snowstorm.
Ice
Informal term for diamonds or jewelry.
She admired the ice sparkling on her necklace.
Slush
Slang for something insubstantial or worthless.
The article was dismissed as mere slush.
Ice
To make something colder using frozen water.
He iced his ankle to reduce the swelling.
Slush
To cause to become or acquire the consistency of slush.
The snow slushed underfoot as temperatures rose.
Ice
Ice is water frozen into a solid state. Depending on the presence of impurities such as particles of soil or bubbles of air, it can appear transparent or a more or less opaque bluish-white color.
Slush
Slush, also called slush ice, is a slurry mixture of small ice crystals (e.g., snow) and liquid water.In the natural environment, slush forms when ice or snow melts. This often mixes with dirt and other materials, resulting in a gray or muddy brown color.
Ice
An entry stored in a person's mobile phone that provides emergency contact information
All mobile phone users should have an ICE contact in their phones
Slush
Partially melted snow or ice
The snow was turning into brown slush in the gutters
Ice
Decorate (a cake or biscuit) with icing.
Slush
Excessive sentiment
The slush of Hollywood's romantic fifties films
Ice
Clinch (something such as a victory or deal).
Slush
Make a squelching or splashing sound
There was water slushing around in the galley
Ice
Kill
She was saved from being iced by the mafia
Slush
Partially melted snow or ice.
Ice
Water frozen solid.
Slush
Soft mud; slop; mire.
Ice
A surface, layer, or mass of frozen water.
Slush
(Nautical) Grease or fat discarded from a ship's galley.
Ice
Something resembling frozen water
Ammonia ice.
Slush
A greasy compound used as a lubricant for machinery.
Ice
A frozen dessert consisting of water, sugar, and a liquid flavoring, often fruit juice.
Slush
Maudlin speech or writing; sentimental drivel.
Ice
Cake frosting; icing.
Slush
A drink made of flavored syrup poured over crushed ice.
Ice
(Slang) Diamonds.
Slush
(Informal) Unsolicited manuscripts submitted to a publisher.
Ice
(Sports) The playing field in ice hockey; the rink.
Slush
To daub (machinery) with slush.
Ice
Extreme unfriendliness or reserve.
Slush
To fill (joints in masonry) with mortar.
Ice
(Slang) A payment over the listed price of a ticket for a public event.
Slush
(Nautical) To wash down (a deck) by splashing with water.
Ice
(Slang) Methamphetamine.
Slush
To splash or soak with slush or mud.
Ice
To coat or slick with solidly frozen water.
Slush
To walk or proceed through slush.
Ice
To cause to become ice; freeze.
Slush
To make a splashing or slushy sound.
Ice
To chill by setting in or as if in ice.
Slush
Half-melted snow or ice, generally located on the ground.
As the skiing season drew to an end, there was nothing but slush left on the piste.
Ice
To cover or decorate (a cake, for example) with a sugar coating.
Slush
Liquid mud or mire.
Ice
(Slang) To ensure of victory, as in a game; clinch.
Slush
Flavored shaved ice served as a drink.
Ice
(Sports) To shoot (the puck) from one's defensive half of an ice hockey rink across the opponent's goal line outside of the goal.
Slush
A soft mixture of grease and other materials, used for lubrication.
Ice
(Slang) To kill; murder.
Slush
The refuse grease and fat collected in cooking, especially on shipboard.
Ice
To turn into or become coated with ice; freeze
The pond iced over.
Slush
(engineering) A mixture of white lead and lime, used as a paint to prevent oxidation.
Ice
(uncountable) Water in frozen (solid) form.
Slush
(publishing) Unsolicited manuscripts, as in slush pile.
Ice
Any frozen volatile chemical, such as ammonia or carbon dioxide.
Slush
To smear with slushy liquid or grease.
Ice
Any volatile chemical, such as water, ammonia, or carbon dioxide, not necessarily in solid form, when discussing the composition of e.g. a planet as an ice giant vs a gas giant.
Slush
To slosh or splash; to move as, or through, a slushy or liquid substance.
Ice
(countable) A frozen dessert made of fruit juice, water and sugar.
Slush
To paint with a mixture of white lead and lime.
Ice
An ice cream.
Slush
Soft mud.
Ice
(uncountable) Any substance having the appearance of ice.
Slush
A mixture of snow and water; half-melted snow.
Ice
One or more diamonds and jewelry, especially blood diamonds.
Slush
A soft mixture of grease and other materials, used for lubrication.
Ice
Crystal form of amphetamine-based drugs.
Slush
The refuse grease and fat collected in cooking, especially on shipboard.
Ice
The area where a game of ice hockey is played.
Slush
A mixture of white lead and lime, with which the bright parts of machines, such as the connecting rods of steamboats, are painted to be preserved from oxidation.
Ice
Elephant or rhinoceros ivory that has been poached and sold on the black market.
Slush
To smear with slush or grease; as, to slush a mast.
Ice
An artifact that has been smuggled, especially one that is either clear or shiny.
Slush
To paint with a mixture of white lead and lime.
Ice
(slang) Money paid as a bribe.
Slush
Partially melted snow
Ice
(transitive) To cool with ice, as a beverage.
Slush
Make a splashing sound;
Water was splashing on the floor
Ice
(intransitive) To become ice; to freeze.
Slush
Spill or splash copiously or clumsily;
Slosh paint all over the walls
Ice
(transitive) To make icy; to freeze.
Ice
To murder.
Ice
(transitive) To cover with icing (frosting made of sugar and milk or white of egg); to frost; as cakes, tarts, etc.
Ice
(ice hockey) To put out a team for a match.
Milton Keynes have yet to ice a team this season
Ice
(ice hockey) To shoot the puck the length of the playing surface, causing a stoppage in play called icing.
If the Bruins ice the puck, the faceoff will be in their own zone.
Ice
Water or other fluid frozen or reduced to the solid state by cold; frozen water. It is a white or transparent colorless substance, crystalline, brittle, and viscoidal. Its specific gravity (0.92, that of water at 4° C. being 1.0) being less than that of water, ice floats.
Ice
Concreted sugar.
Ice
Water, cream, custard, etc., sweetened, flavored, and artificially frozen.
Ice
Any substance having the appearance of ice; as, camphor ice.
Ice
To cover with ice; to convert into ice, or into something resembling ice.
Ice
To cover with icing, or frosting made of sugar and milk or white of egg; to frost, as cakes, tarts, etc.
Ice
To chill or cool, as with ice; to freeze.
Ice
Water frozen in the solid state;
Americans like ice in their drinks
Ice
The frozen part of a body of water
Ice
Diamonds;
Look at the ice on that dame!
Ice
A flavored sugar topping used to coat and decorate cakes
Ice
A frozen dessert with fruit flavoring (especially one containing no milk)
Ice
Amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant
Ice
A heat engine in which combustion occurs inside the engine rather than in a separate furnace; heat expands a gas that either moves a piston or turns a gas turbine
Ice
A rink with a floor of ice for ice hockey or ice skating;
The crowd applauded when she skated out onto the ice
Ice
Decorate with frosting;
Frost a cake
Ice
Put ice on or put on ice;
Ice your sprained limbs
Common Curiosities
What is ice used for?
Ice is used for cooling beverages, preserving food, and in recreational activities like ice skating.
Can ice be artificially created?
Yes, ice can be artificially created in freezers or with industrial ice-making equipment.
Is slush hazardous?
Slush can be hazardous as it makes surfaces slippery, posing risks for driving and walking.
What temperature does water turn into ice?
Water turns into ice at 0°C or below.
Is all slush the same consistency?
No, the consistency of slush can vary depending on the ratio of ice to water.
How does slush form?
Slush forms when snow melts slightly and then refreezes, creating a mushy mixture.
Does slush occur in all cold climates?
Slush occurs in many cold climates, particularly during transitional weather periods.
How long does ice last?
The duration ice lasts depends on the temperature and the size of the ice.
What are some common uses of slush?
Common uses of slush include slushie beverages and as a natural occurrence on roads during winter.
How do you remove slush from roads?
Slush is typically removed from roads using plows and salt to prevent re-freezing.
Can ice be clear or cloudy?
Ice can be both clear and cloudy, depending on the impurities in the water and freezing conditions.
What is the difference in appearance between ice and slush?
Ice is usually clear and solid, whereas slush is opaque and mushy.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
