# iceberg

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/ · frequency rank #18,341

## Definitions
1. The seaward end of a glacier.
2. A huge mass of ocean-floating ice which has broken off a glacier or ice shelf
3. An aloof person.
4. An impending disastrous event whose adverse effects are only beginning to show.
5. A topic that is more convoluted and fractal than it may seem.
6. A topic that is more convoluted and fractal than it may seem.

## Etymology
Partial calque of Dutch ijsberg (compound of ijs (“ice”) + berg (“mountain”)), from Middle Dutch ijsberch. First used to describe a glacier as seen at a distance from a ship then used as a term to describe the floating chunks of ice broken off from such glaciers. Cognate to German Eisberg, Danish isbjerg, Norwegian isberg and Swedish isberg. Figurative senses in reference to the fact that only one-tenth of an iceberg is usually visible above water.

## Common misspellings (10)
`cieberg`, `icbeerg`, `icceberg`, `icebberg`, `icebegr`, `icebergg`, `iceberrg`, `icebreg`, `iceebrg`, `iecberg`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/iceberg