A1 noun Neutral

iceberg

/ˈaɪs.bɜːɡ/

A very large piece of ice that floats in the cold ocean. Most of an iceberg stays under the water, making it hard for ships to see everything.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The ship passed a large iceberg in the cold ocean.

The boat moved past a big piece of ice in the sea.

2

The captain reported a massive iceberg drifting near the shipping route.

The leader of the ship noted a very large iceberg moving near where ships travel.

3

Look at that huge iceberg floating over there!

Look at that very big piece of floating ice!

Word Family

Noun
iceberg
Related
glacier
💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Ice' + 'Berg' (German for mountain). It is a mountain made of ice that 'bergs' (hides) most of itself underwater.

Quick Quiz

The Titanic sank after hitting a giant _______ in the North Atlantic.

Correct!

The correct answer is: iceberg

Examples

1

The ship passed a large iceberg in the cold ocean.

everyday

The boat moved past a big piece of ice in the sea.

2

The captain reported a massive iceberg drifting near the shipping route.

formal

The leader of the ship noted a very large iceberg moving near where ships travel.

3

Look at that huge iceberg floating over there!

informal

Look at that very big piece of floating ice!

4

Icebergs are formed when large pieces of ice break off from glaciers.

academic

Icebergs are created when big parts of ice fall away from land ice.

5

The company's current debt is just the tip of the iceberg.

business

The money the company owes is only a small part of a much bigger problem.

Word Family

Noun
iceberg
Related
glacier

Common Collocations

giant iceberg a very big iceberg
tip of the iceberg a small visible part of a much larger problem
iceberg lettuce a specific type of round, crisp green vegetable
hit an iceberg to crash into a large piece of floating ice
floating iceberg an iceberg that is moving on the water

Common Phrases

the tip of the iceberg

only a small part of something much bigger

iceberg ahead

a warning that a large piece of ice is in front of a ship

iceberg lettuce

a common type of crunchy salad leaf

Often Confused With

iceberg vs glacier

A glacier is a large mass of ice on land, while an iceberg floats in the water.

iceberg vs ice cube

An ice cube is very small and used for drinks, while an iceberg is naturally occurring and massive.

📝

Usage Notes

Use 'iceberg' only when describing ice that is floating in the sea. When talking about problems, use 'tip of the iceberg' to show that most of the problem is hidden.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often call any large piece of ice an iceberg, even if it is on a mountain. Remember, it must be in the ocean to be an iceberg.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Ice' + 'Berg' (German for mountain). It is a mountain made of ice that 'bergs' (hides) most of itself underwater.

📖

Word Origin

From the Dutch word 'ijsberg', which literally means 'ice mountain'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun (one iceberg, two icebergs) Usually used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific one
🌍

Cultural Context

The word is most famous culturally for its role in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

Quick Quiz

The Titanic sank after hitting a giant _______ in the North Atlantic.

Correct!

The correct answer is: iceberg

More nature words

rainforest

A1

A thick forest in a tropical area that receives a large amount of rain throughout the year. It is a dense habitat known for having many different types of plants and animals.

wetland

A1

A wetland is an area of land that is always wet or covered with shallow water. It is a very important place where many different plants and animals, like birds and frogs, live.

coral reef

A1

A coral reef is a large underwater structure made from the skeletons of small sea animals called corals. They are usually found in warm, shallow parts of the ocean and provide a home for many types of fish.

vegetation

A1

Vegetation refers to all the plants and trees that grow in a particular area. It is used to describe the green cover of the earth, like forests or grass.

foliage

A1

Foliage refers to the leaves of a plant or tree, considered as a group. It is often used to describe the overall appearance and mass of greenery in a landscape or forest.

canopy

A1

A canopy is a cover that hangs over something, like a bed or a seat, to provide shade or protection. In nature, it is the top layer of a forest where the branches and leaves of tall trees meet to form a roof.

photosynthesis

A1

Photosynthesis is the natural process that green plants use to make their own food. They use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy and release oxygen into the air.

pollination

A1

Pollination is the process of moving pollen from one flower to another to help plants make seeds and fruit. This is usually done by insects like bees or by the wind.

seedling

A1

A seedling is a very young plant that has just started to grow from a seed. It usually has a small green stem and its first few tiny leaves.

sapling

A1

A sapling is a very young tree with a thin trunk. It is the stage of growth after a seed sprouts but before it becomes a large, mature tree.

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