ice age

== English == === Alternative forms === Ice Age === Etymology === Perhaps a calque of German Eiszeit. === Pronunciation === === Noun === ice age (plural ice ages) (sciences) A period of long-term reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence of major polar ice sheets that reach the ocean and calve icebergs. (colloquial) Any of several glacial periods (within a scientific ice age) marked by episodes of extensive glaciation alternating with episodes of relative warmth (interglacial). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === ice age on Wikipedia.Wikipedia