What does FLOES mean?

Parts of Speech:

Noun

Definitions:

1. A sheet of floating ice, especially a large flat one.
2. A mass of floating ice broken away from a larger body.

Pronunciations:

US: /floʊz/
UK: /fləʊz/

Origin and Usage:

The word "floes" originated from the Middle Dutch word "vlo" which means "an area of water". It was first used in the English language in the early 17th century. Floes are a common sight in polar regions and are formed when ice is broken away from a larger body, such as a glacier or ice shelf. They can pose a hazard to ships and are often studied by climate scientists to better understand the effects of climate change.

Synonyms:

Ice sheet, ice floe, ice field, ice pack, ice shelf, iceberg

Related Words:

Glaze, frost, slush, sleet, icier

Example Sentences:

1. As they approached the Arctic Circle, they encountered large floes of ice that made navigation difficult.
2. The polar bears were seen jumping from one ice floe to another in search of food.
3. The ship had to be diverted to avoid a massive ice floe that was drifting towards them.