different between icy vs piercing

English

Alternative forms

• icey (rare)
• ycie (obsolete)

Etymology

ice +? -y; cf. Old English ?si?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?a?si/

Adjective

icy (comparative icier, superlative iciest)

1. Pertaining to, resembling, or abounding in ice; cold; frosty.
2. Covered with ice, wholly or partially.
3. Characterized by coldness of manner; frigid; cold.
   • 2009, Sharon Kendrick, The Desert Princes Bundle: The Sheikh's English Bride

     Gone was the gleam of desire, and the teasingly provocative remarks, and Alexa realised the truth in the saying that indifference was death. His demeanour was haughty and icy towards her.

4. (US, slang) To be wearing an excessive amount of jewelry, especially of the high-quality and expensive kind.

Related terms

• icily
• iciness

Translations

References

• icy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• icy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• CyI

Middle French

Adverb

icy

1. here

Descendants

• French: ici

English

Etymology

pierce +? -ing

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??s??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??s??/
• Rhymes: -??(?)s??
• Hyphenation: piercing

Verb

piercing

1. present participle of pierce

Noun

piercing (countable and uncountable, plural piercings)

1. (uncountable) The action of the verb to pierce.
2. A hole made in the body so that jewellery/jewelry can be worn through it.

   ear piercing

3. An item of jewelry designed to be fitted through a piercing.

Translations

Adjective

piercing (comparative more piercing, superlative most piercing)

1. Appearing to look deeply into; penetrating.

   piercing eyes

2. Of temperature, extremely cold so that it penetrates through clothing and shelter.
3. Of sound, loud and sharp; shrill.

   The piercing noise of the children could be heard two blocks from the elementary school.

Derived terms

• armour-piercing, armor-piercing

Translations

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pi?r.s??/
• Hyphenation: pier?cing

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings, diminutive piercinkje n)

1. piercing (ornament)

Derived terms

• lippiercing
• navelpiercing
• neuspiercing
• tepelpiercing
• wenkbrauwpiercing

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pj??.si?/

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings)

1. a piercing

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pir.sin?/, /?pir.sin/
• Hyphenation: pier?cing

Noun

piercing m (invariable)

1. piercing (jewellery worn through a hole in the skin or tongue)

Polish

Etymology

From English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?ir.sink/

Noun

piercing m inan

1. piercing (jewellery worn through a hole in the skin or tongue)

Declension

Further reading

• piercing in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• piercing in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /?pi?.s?/

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings)

1. piercing (jewellery worn through a hole in the skin or tongue)

Usage notes

Earrings (brincos) are not considered piercings.

Spanish

Etymology

From English piercing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pi?sin/, [?pi?.s?n]

Noun

piercing m (plural piercings)

1. piercing

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from English piercing.

Noun

piercing c

1. piercing (body art)

Declension

Derived terms

• ansiktspiercing
• kroppspiercing