Plain English Meaning

A layer of clear, glassy ice that builds up on the aircraft when rain or cloud droplets hit it and freeze. It looks like the shiny ice you see on a frozen puddle, and it sticks hard to wings and other surfaces.

Full Definition

A smooth, clear, hard coating of ice that forms on an aircraft surface when supercooled liquid water droplets strike it and freeze slowly enough to spread out before solidifying. Glaze ice is dense, heavy, transparent, and tightly bonded to the airframe, making it the most dangerous form of structural icing.

Context Anchor

Seen in aircraft icing discussions, preflight decisions, and in- of ice on wings, , , or other exposed surfaces.