snowflake

Meaning

Noun

1. A crystal of snow, having approximate hexagonal symmetry.
2. Any of several bulbous European plants, of the genus Leucojum, having white flowers.
3. The snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis.
4. (derogatory, slang) Someone who believes they are particularly unique and special.
5. (derogatory, slang) Someone hypersensitive to insult or offense, especially a young person with politically correct sensibilities.
6. A type of lesion that appears as scattered white-brown spots under high magnification light microscopy.
7. Something that is unique in every presentation.
8. (derogatory, slang, usually) A Caucasian person.
9. (historical) Someone (usually white) who was opposed to the abolition of slavery (Missouri, 1860s)

Verb

1. To fall in the manner of a snowflake.
2. To arrange (data) into a snowflake schema.

Synonyms

flake

snowbird

snow bunting

Plectrophenax nivalis

snake

🐍

snowdrop

windflower

fisheye

fish eye

snow mist

shatter crack

white flake

daisy

🌼

soft fluffy snow

flurry

innocent

😇

poppy

Translations

flocon de neige

Schneeflocke

❄️

sneeuwvlok

❄️

copo de nieve

❄️

fiocco di neve

❄️

floco de neve

❄️

Märzenbecher

❄️

νιφάδα

χιονονιφάδα

kar tanesi

❄️

nivéole

❄️

floc de neu

copo

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsnəʊ.fleɪk/

Etymology

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: Sneeflokke

Cognate with Dutch: sneeuwvlok

Cognate with Luxembourgish: Schnéiflack

Cognate with German: Schneeflocke

In summary

From snow + flake. Compare Saterland Frisian Sneeflokke (“snowflake”), Dutch sneeuwvlok, Luxembourgish Schnéiflack, German Schneeflocke.