SNOWFLAKE

Snowflake

A snowflake is either a single ice crystal or an aggregation of ice crystals which falls through the Earth's atmosphere. They begin as snow crystals which develop when microscopic supercooled cloud droplets freeze. Snowflakes come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity regimes, such that individual snowflakes are nearly unique in structure. Snowflakes encapsulated in rime form balls known as graupel. Snowflakes appear white in color despite being made of clear ice. This is due to diffuse reflection of the whole spectrum of light by the small crystal facets.

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snowflake

Noun

  1. A crystal of snow, having approximate hexagonal symmetry.<ref name="OED"/>
  2. Any of several bulbous European plants, of the genus , having white flowers.<ref name="OED"/>
  3. The snow bunting, .<ref name="OED"/>


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: snowflake
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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