Icy vs. Ice — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
Icy refers to a surface or condition that is covered in or resembles ice, often meaning it's slippery or cold. Ice is the solid form of water, a natural substance that is cold and hard.
Difference Between Icy and Ice
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Icy describes a condition or surface that is covered with or resembles ice, implying slipperiness or extreme cold, such as icy roads or icy weather. Ice, however, is a substance itself, specifically frozen water, used in drinks or naturally occurring in nature.
Icy is an adjective describing how something appears or feels, like an "icy demeanor" indicating cold behavior. Ice, being a noun, refers to frozen water found in cubes, sheets, or natural formations like glaciers.
Icy conditions can occur due to low temperatures causing moisture to freeze on surfaces. Ice is directly formed from freezing water, either naturally in winter or artificially for refrigeration.
Icy often has metaphorical uses, implying coolness or emotional distance in behavior. Ice is literal and primarily denotes frozen water, often used in beverages or sports like ice skating.
Icy roads and sidewalks require extra care to navigate due to their slippery nature. Ice can also be dangerous when forming on power lines or building structures, potentially causing damage.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Covered in or resembling ice
Frozen water, a solid form of water
Part of Speech
Adjective
Noun
Conditions
Slippery, cold, or frosty
Cold and hard
Example
"The car skidded on the icy road."
"They put ice in their drinks."
Metaphorical Use
Suggests coldness or emotional distance
Limited metaphorical use
Compare with Definitions
Icy
Suggesting coldness or emotional distance.
She gave him an icy stare after the argument.
Ice
A layer or sheet of frozen water.
The lake was covered in thick ice.
Icy
Shiny and slick as with a thin coating of ice;
Roads and trees glazed with an icy film
Ice
Frozen water, a solid form due to temperatures below freezing.
They used ice cubes to cool their drinks.
Icy
Covered in ice, extremely cold, or slippery.
The icy roads made driving dangerous.
Ice
Naturally formed frozen water, like in glaciers or hail.
The explorers trekked across the Arctic ice.
Icy
Resembling ice, often with frost or chill.
The wind brought an icy chill to the valley.
Ice
Figurative meaning for diamonds.
She admired the sparkling ice in the jewelry store.
Icy
Affected by or dealing with freezing temperatures.
The town is bracing for more icy weather.
Ice
Artificially formed ice for refrigeration or skating rinks.
The ice rink was prepared for the hockey game.
Icy
Covered with or consisting of ice
There were icy patches on the roads
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.
Icy
Containing or covered with ice
An icy road.
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
Icy
Bitterly cold; freezing
An icy day.
Ice
Decorate (a cake or biscuit) with icing.
Icy
Unfriendly or hostile
An icy stare.
Ice
Clinch (something such as a victory or deal).
Icy
Showing no emotion
Icy detachment.
Ice
Kill
She was saved from being iced by the mafia
Icy
Pertaining to, resembling, or abounding in ice; cold; frosty.
Ice
Water frozen solid.
Icy
Covered with ice, wholly or partially.
Ice
A surface, layer, or mass of frozen water.
Icy
Characterized by coldness of manner; frigid; cold.
Ice
Something resembling frozen water
Ammonia ice.
Icy
Pertaining to, resembling, or abounding in, ice; cold; frosty.
Ice
A frozen dessert consisting of water, sugar, and a liquid flavoring, often fruit juice.
Icy
Characterized by coldness, as of manner, influence, etc.; chilling; frigid; cold.
Icy was the deportment with which Philip received these demonstrations of affection.
Ice
Cake frosting; icing.
Icy
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
Ice
(Slang) Diamonds.
Icy
Extremely cold;
An arctic climate
A frigid day
Gelid waters of the North Atlantic
Glacial winds
Icy hands
Polar weather
Ice
(Sports) The playing field in ice hockey; the rink.
Icy
Covered with or containing or consisting of ice;
Icy northern waters
Ice
Extreme unfriendliness or reserve.
Ice
(Slang) A payment over the listed price of a ticket for a public event.
Ice
(Slang) Methamphetamine.
Ice
To coat or slick with solidly frozen water.
Ice
To cause to become ice; freeze.
Ice
To chill by setting in or as if in ice.
Ice
To cover or decorate (a cake, for example) with a sugar coating.
Ice
(Slang) To ensure of victory, as in a game; clinch.
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.
Ice
(Slang) To kill; murder.
Ice
To turn into or become coated with ice; freeze
The pond iced over.
Ice
(uncountable) Water in frozen (solid) form.
Ice
Any frozen volatile chemical, such as ammonia or carbon dioxide.
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.
Ice
(countable) A frozen dessert made of fruit juice, water and sugar.
Ice
An ice cream.
Ice
(uncountable) Any substance having the appearance of ice.
Ice
One or more diamonds and jewelry, especially blood diamonds.
Ice
Crystal form of amphetamine-based drugs.
Ice
The area where a game of ice hockey is played.
Ice
Elephant or rhinoceros ivory that has been poached and sold on the black market.
Ice
An artifact that has been smuggled, especially one that is either clear or shiny.
Ice
(slang) Money paid as a bribe.
Ice
(transitive) To cool with ice, as a beverage.
Ice
(intransitive) To become ice; to freeze.
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
Can ice form indoors?
Yes, ice can form in freezers or indoor ice rinks.
Is icy always a dangerous condition?
Not necessarily, but it often implies a slippery or cold surface that requires caution.
Are icy and frosty the same?
They are similar, but frosty typically describes a thin layer of ice crystals.
Can icy describe non-physical things?
Yes, "icy" can describe cold behavior or a distant attitude.
Are icy roads always slippery?
Yes, icy roads are generally slippery due to the layer of ice.
Does ice come in different forms?
Yes, ice can form as sheets, cubes, pellets, or crystals.
Can ice be used in sports?
Yes, ice is used in sports like ice hockey and figure skating.
How does ice naturally form in the environment?
Ice forms naturally when temperatures are below freezing, creating glaciers, hail, and frost.
Is ice just frozen water?
Yes, ice is the solid state of water formed when temperatures drop below freezing.
Can ice cause damage to structures?
Yes, ice can build up on roofs or power lines, potentially causing collapses.
Is icy always used as an adjective?
Yes, it's always used to describe something covered in or resembling ice.
Does ice have metaphorical meanings?
It's occasionally used metaphorically for diamonds or cold behavior.
Do icy and frigid mean the same thing?
They are related but differ; frigid describes extremely cold temperatures, while icy often implies a frozen surface.
Is icy weather common in all regions?
No, it's more common in regions with cold climates or high altitudes.
Can ice float on water?
Yes, ice floats because it's less dense than liquid water.
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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.
