from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Glacial \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.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Chem.) Resembling ice; having the appearance and
consistency of ice; -- said of certain solid compounds;
as, glacial phosphoric or acetic acids.
[1913 Webster]
{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 {Glacial 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 {Glacial hypothesis}. (Geol.) See
{Glacier theory}, under {Glacier}.
[1913 Webster]