What does iceberg mean?
An iceberg is a large, floating mass of ice that has broken away from a glacier or ice shelf. In ordinary use, the word is associated with polar regions, shipping, and the dangers of ice drifting into navigable waters. It also has a well-established figurative meaning: an iceberg can represent a problem or scandal whose visible surface is only a small part of something much larger. This sense is the source of expressions such as “the tip of the iceberg,” which imply that additional difficulties remain hidden. The word combines English “ice” with German berg, meaning “mountain,” in the compound Eisberg, literally “ice mountain.” In modern usage, iceberg can therefore refer either to a genuine geographical formation or, metaphorically, to a concealed extent of trouble.
nounA large, floating mass of ice that has broken away from a glacier or ice shelf. By extension, an iceberg can refer to a problem or hidden difficulty whose full extent is greater than is initially apparent.
- A large, floating mass of ice that has separated from a glacier or ice shelf.
- A metaphor for a problem, difficulty, or wrongdoing whose true extent is not immediately apparent.
"The ship struck an iceberg that had drifted into the shipping lane."
"The expedition mapped the distribution of icebergs around the coast."
"The audit exposed only the tip of the iceberg, and further investigation revealed widespread misconduct."
Use the plural when referring to more than one iceberg or to multiple separate floating ice masses.
"Several icebergs drifted toward the harbor."
The phrase “tip of the iceberg” captures the idea that what is visible may be only a small part of a much larger hidden problem.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of iceberg
The English word entered use in the early 19th century from German Eisberg, literally “ice mountain,” with Berg meaning “mountain.” English already had the word “ice,” while the German element supplied the sense of a large elevated mass. The English compound spread internationally as the term for a detached mass of floating glacial ice. Its modern figurative use developed in the 20th century from the image of most of an iceberg being hidden beneath the water.
How iceberg is actually used
The literal sense is common in geography, navigation, and polar exploration. The figurative sense is widespread in general and professional language, usually suggesting that a visible problem conceals a much larger one.
Easily confused with iceberg
An iceberg is a floating piece of ice, whereas an ice shelf is a large, floating extension of a glacier attached to land.
A floe is generally a smaller, flat piece of floating ice, while an iceberg is typically a much larger mass of ice.