Iceberg
'aɪsˌbɜːrɡ
Definitions
2 meaningsA large mass of ice that floats in the ocean.
'aɪsˌbɜːrɡ
A large mass of ice floating in the ocean.
The cruise ship had to change its course to avoid the iceberg.
💡 Simply: Imagine a giant chunk of ice that broke off from a glacier and is now floating in the sea, like a big, icy island. It's like a really big ice cube that's too big to put in your drink!
👶 For kids: A big, giant piece of ice floating in the ocean!
More Examples
The iceberg was a threat to navigation in the North Atlantic.
We saw a beautiful iceberg with a blue hue on our trip to Antarctica.
How It's Used
"The ship's lookout spotted an iceberg just in time to avoid a collision."
"Scientists are studying the effects of melting icebergs on sea levels."
Something that seems small or insignificant but actually conceals a much larger or more significant issue or problem.
'aɪsˌbɜːrɡ
Something that appears small but contains a hidden, significant amount of information or power (figurative).
The company's financial problems were just the tip of the iceberg.
💡 Simply: Imagine you see just the tip of an iceberg – the part above the water. But you know a huge part of it is hidden underwater. This means something that seems like a small problem might actually be a much bigger one underneath.
👶 For kids: Something that looks small on the outside, but it's hiding something big underneath!
More Examples
The surface of the conflict was only the tip of the iceberg.
The initial complaints from customers were the tip of the iceberg regarding the company's poor service.
How It's Used
"The initial news report was just the tip of the iceberg; the scandal was far more complex."
"The project's budget increase was just the tip of the iceberg; many more costs are expected."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
The tip of the iceberg
The small, visible part of a much larger hidden issue or problem.
"The layoffs were just the tip of the iceberg; the company was in serious financial trouble."
From Dutch *ijsberg*, literally 'ice mountain'. First recorded in English in the early 18th century.
The term 'iceberg' has been used since the early 18th century. It was often used in maritime reports and nautical literature. In the 20th century, it became more widely used in figurative contexts to describe hidden problems.
Memory tip
Think of the Titanic! It's a big chunk of ice floating in the ocean, ready to cause trouble.
Word Origin
"ice mountain"