SKIP TO CONTENT

ice cream

/aɪs krim/
/aɪs krim/
IPA guide

Other forms: ice creams

Ice cream is a sweet, creamy, cold treat that's eaten on a cone or with a spoon. You might opt for a tiny bowl of vanilla ice cream, or you could go crazy with a triple-scoop of Rocky Road in a waffle cone.

The invention of ice cream is attributed to ancient China, where an ice cream-like mixture of frozen milk and rice was eaten as early as 200 B.C.E. Ice cream was also eaten by early Americans, introduced from Europe by Quakers, and enjoyed by Ben Franklin and Dolley Madison, among others. Widespread use of ice cream cones began at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, and in the mid-20th century, soft serve ice cream was invented.

Definitions of ice cream
  1. noun
    frozen dessert containing cream and sugar and flavoring
    synonyms: icecream
    see moresee less
    types:
    chocolate ice cream
    ice cream flavored with chocolate
    Neapolitan ice cream
    a block of ice cream with 3 or 4 layers of different colors and flavors
    peach ice cream
    ice cream flavored with fresh peaches
    strawberry ice cream
    ice cream flavored with fresh strawberries
    tutti-frutti
    ice cream containing chopped candied fruits
    vanilla ice cream
    ice cream flavored with vanilla extract
    choc-ice
    colloquial British abbreviation for chocolate ice cream
    type of:
    frozen dessert
    any of various desserts prepared by freezing
Pronunciation
US
/aɪs krim/
UK
/aɪs krim/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘ice cream'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family