iceberg
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 5The ship passed a large iceberg in the cold ocean.
The boat moved past a big piece of ice in the sea.
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.
Look at that huge iceberg floating over there!
Look at that very big piece of floating ice!
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
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
The ship passed a large iceberg in the cold ocean.
everydayThe boat moved past a big piece of ice in the sea.
The captain reported a massive iceberg drifting near the shipping route.
formalThe leader of the ship noted a very large iceberg moving near where ships travel.
Look at that huge iceberg floating over there!
informalLook at that very big piece of floating ice!
Icebergs are formed when large pieces of ice break off from glaciers.
academicIcebergs are created when big parts of ice fall away from land ice.
The company's current debt is just the tip of the iceberg.
businessThe money the company owes is only a small part of a much bigger problem.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
A glacier is a large mass of ice on land, while an iceberg floats in the water.
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
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
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
More nature words
rainforest
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1A 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
A1Vegetation 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
A1Foliage 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
A1A 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
A1Photosynthesis 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
A1Pollination 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
A1A 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
A1A 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.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free