Gla"brous (?), a. [L. glaber; cf. Gr. &?; hollow, smooth, &?; to
hollow.] Smooth; having a surface without hairs or any unevenness.
Gla"cial (?), a. [L. glacialis, from glacies ice: cf. F. glacial.] 1.
Pertaining to ice or to its action; consisting of ice; frozen; icy;
esp., pertaining to glaciers; as, glacial phenomena. Lyell.
2. (Chem.) Resembling ice; having the appearance and consistency of
ice; -- said of certain solid compounds; as, glacial phosphoric or
acetic acids.
Glacial acid (Chem.), an acid of such strength or purity as to
crystallize at an ordinary temperature, in an icelike form; as acetic
or carbolic acid. -- Glacial drift (Geol.), earth and rocks which have
been transported by moving ice, land ice, or icebergs; bowlder drift.
-- Glacial epoch or period (Geol.), a period during which the climate
of the modern temperate regions was polar, and ice covered large
portions of the northern hemisphere to the mountain tops. -- Glacial
theory or hypothesis. (Geol.) See Glacier theory, under Glacier.
Gla"cial*ist, n. One who attributes the phenomena of the drift, in
geology, to glaciers.
Gla"ci*ate (?), v. i. [L. glaciatus, p. p. of glaciare to freeze, fr.
glacies ice.] To turn to ice.
Gla"ci*ate, v. t. 1. To convert into, or cover with, ice.
2. (Geol.) To produce glacial effects upon, as in the scoring of rocks,
transportation of loose material, etc.
Glaciated rocks, rocks whose surfaces have been smoothed, furrowed, or
striated, by the action of ice.
Gla`ci*a"tion (?), n. 1. Act of freezing.