Definition

Water that comes from the melting of snow or ice.

Example

In spring, the meltwater from the mountains flows into the rivers.

Conversation

Have you noticed how fast the meltwater is rising lately?

Yeah, it's crazy! I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

I wonder how much of it is from the snow melting in the mountains.

Probably a lot! It definitely affects the rivers around here.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Meltwater is formed from "melt" (from Old English *meltan*, meaning to soften or dissolve) and "water" (from Old English *wæter*, meaning liquid that falls as rain or flows in rivers). The term refers to the water produced when ice or snow melts.

Memory Tip

Think of ice 'softening' ('melt') and turning into 'liquid' ('water') — that's what meltwater is.

Visually Confused Words