frost flower
Frozen delicate formation
Frost flower refers to two natural formations of ice crystals.
One forms on sea ice when frigid air meets warmer water, creating delicate ice structures that resemble flowers.
The other appears on certain plants in late autumn—water in the stem freezes and expands, cracking the stem and extruding thin ribbons of ice into petal-like shapes: We found frost flowers along the trail this morning.
Solid water structure
- hoarfrostFrozen fog deposit
- rimeGranular ice deposit
- frozenSolidified by extreme cold
- frostworkOrnate ice crystal formations
crystallization · ice sculpture · subzero · permafrost · supercooling · capillary action · dead wood
Easily broken or damaged
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
wispy · lacy · filigree · feathery · intricate · dainty · evanescent · short-lived
Frozen ocean surface
- brineWater saturated with sodium
- salineSalt-water solution
- polarOf extreme latitudes
- arcticOf extreme northern cold
ice floe · pack ice · thin ice · extreme cold · ice field · sublimation · ice cover
Openwork of crossed strips
- facetPlane on cut stone
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
glitter · sparkle · shimmer · glisten · translucent · clarity · geometric · hexagonal
Refined, graceful quality
- exquisiteFlawlessly crafted, delicate
- ornateElaborately decorated
- sculpturalRelating to carved forms
- picturesqueVisually pleasing, paintable
wondrous · sublime · pristine · purity · allure · splendor · delicate beauty
ice crystal
Solid water structure
frostwork · crystallization · ice sculpture · subzero · permafrost · supercooling · capillary action · dead wood
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
gossamer · wispy · lacy · filigree · feathery · intricate · dainty · evanescent · short-lived · vanishing
sea ice
Frozen ocean surface
arctic · ice floe · pack ice · thin ice · extreme cold · ice field · sublimation · ice cover
lattice
Openwork of crossed strips
- facetPlane on cut stone
- prismLight-splitting optical element
- refractionWave bending between media
symmetry · glitter · sparkle · shimmer · glisten · translucent · clarity · geometric · hexagonal · branching
elegance
Refined, graceful quality
- exquisiteFlawlessly crafted, delicate
- ornateElaborately decorated
- sculpturalRelating to carved forms
picturesque · wondrous · sublime · pristine · purity · allure · splendor · delicate beauty
frost flowerlava flow
Moving volcanic discharge
desert bloom · heat shimmer · thermal vent · wildfire · fire
frost flowerpetrified wood
Mineralized tree fossils
fossil · granite · diamond · bronze statue · evergreen
frost, flower, frosts, frosted, frosting, frosty, flowers, flowered, flowering