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serac

serac
Noun
pl: seracs

This term is a specialized geological and glaciological descriptor used primarily by mountaineers, glaciologists, and explorers. It carries a strong connotation of danger and instability, as these ice towers are prone to sudden, catastrophic collapse without warning.

In a technical context, it is distinguished from a general ice cliff or a crevasse by its specific structure as a freestanding block or column. Because of this inherent instability, the word often appears in narratives of high-altitude climbing to evoke a sense of peril and precariousness.

Meanings

Nounserac

A large block or column of glacial ice, often formed by intersecting crevasses.

The climbers had to navigate a treacherous field of seracs to reach the summit.

Examples

The climbers paused to assess the stability of the towering serac above them.

none

The climbers paused to assess the stability of the towering serac above them.

Watch out for that serac on the right.

Travel

Watch out for that serac on the right.

A massive serac collapsed without warning, triggering a localized avalanche.

none

A massive serac collapsed without warningtriggering a localized avalanche.

I cannot believe how precarious this serac looks from this angle.

none

I cannot believe how precarious this serac looks from this angle.

The route takes the expedition team directly beneath a series of unstable seracs.

Travel

The route takes the expedition team directly beneath a series of unstable seracs.

Glacial movement creates these jagged seracs as the ice flows over a steep drop.

none

Glacial movement creates these jagged seracs as the ice flows over a steep drop.

We need to move quickly to avoid spending too much time under the serac.

none

We need to move quickly to avoid spending too much time under the serac.

The blue tint of the serac indicated highly compressed ice.

none

The blue tint of the serac indicated highly compressed ice.

Avoid the icefall where the seracs are most prone to calving.

none

Avoid the icefall where the seracs are most prone to calving.

Related Words

glaciericecrevassemorainefirnnevesnowicebergcolumntowerspireblockfragmentcrystalfrostpermafrostaccumulationablationcalvingavalanchecollapsefracturefissurecrackslopecliffprecipicepeaksummitmountainalpinearcticantarcticpolartundraaltitudeelevationclimatetemperaturefreezemeltthawcompressiontensiongravityerosiondepositiongeologyglaciologyhydrologycrystallinetranslucentopaquewhitebluecoldfrigidfrozeninstabilityhazarddangerclimbingmountaineeringexpeditiontrekkingcramponice axeropeharnesscarabinerpitonbeaconprobeshovel
Última atualização: May 2026Reportar um erro