meltwater

noun

melt·​wa·​ter ˈmelt-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce meltwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
: water derived from the melting of ice and snow

Examples of meltwater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Most disastrous of all, the impact shattered the ice dam holding back Lake Agassiz, a vast expanse of glacial meltwater that stretched across Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Zach St. George, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 All around the world, glacier meltwater feeds mountain lakes, and as glacial ice recedes due to global warming, many of these bodies of water are becoming larger and more unstable. WIRED, 24 Oct. 2023 And meltwater from shrinking glacial ice on land affects circulation in the ocean. Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2023 The spring often brings floods and ice jams, when meltwater from the warmer upstream is obstructed by jagged-edge riverine glaciers. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024 Some Greenlanders even depend on glaciers’ meltwater for drinking water. Delger Erdenesanaa, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023 Clipper could find something other than an ocean; there may instead be a frozen sea filled with pockets of meltwater. WIRED, 24 Dec. 2023 Throughout the spring and summer, the basin fills with rain and meltwater until the water builds enough pressure to crack through the ice. Anna Canny, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2023 As the ice melts, more water will temporarily become available, but if warming is left unchecked the ice and its meltwater will eventually run out. Delger Erdenesanaa, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meltwater.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meltwater was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near meltwater

Cite this Entry

“Meltwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meltwater. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

meltwater

noun
melt·​wa·​ter ˈmelt-ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce meltwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: water that comes from the melting of ice and snow

More from Merriam-Webster on meltwater

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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