Definition
The process of removing ice, frost, or snow that has already formed on an aircraft's surfaces, typically using heated fluids, mechanical means such as pneumatic boots that inflate to break ice off the leading edges, or electrically heated elements.
Plain English
Getting rid of ice that is already stuck to the airplane.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of winter operations and aircraft ice-removal equipment, such as inflatable wing devices, heated propellers, or ground deicing before takeoff.
Derivation
From the prefix 'de-' meaning 'remove' and 'icing' meaning 'the buildup of ice.' So 'deicing' literally means removing ice that has already formed.
Why Pilots Care
Ice buildup changes wing shape, reducing lift and increasing the risk of stall; removing it restores normal flight characteristics.
Intuition Check
Deicing is not the same as anti-icing. Deicing removes ice after it forms; anti-icing tries to keep ice from forming in the first place.
Example Sentence 1
Before takeoff in freezing rain, the crew requested deicing to clear the snow and ice that had built up on the wings.
Example Sentence 2
Activating the wing deicing boots caused the ice to crack and shed from the leading edge.