né⋅vé
/neɪˈveɪ/
Show Spelled Pronunciation [ney-vey]
Show IPA –noun | 1. | granular snow accumulated on high mountains and subsequently compacted into glacial ice. |
Origin: 1850–55; < Franco-Provençal < VL
*nivātum, n. use of neut. of L
nivātus snow-cooled, equiv. to
niv- (s. of
nix snow ) +
-ātus -ate 1 
firn (fîrn) n. Granular, partially consolidated snow that has passed through one summer melt season but is not yet glacial ice. Also called old snow.
[German, from German dialectal, of last year, from Old High German firni, old.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Science Dictionary
névé (nā-vā') Pronunciation Key
The upper part of a glacier, consisting of hardened snow.
The granular snow typically found in such a field.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source