igloo

Everyday

1. A dome-shaped shelter built from blocks of hard snow, made by Inuit people in the Arctic for hunting trips. tree →
2. Anything shaped like a dome, such as an igloo tent or a dome-shaped bin. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons about the Arctic and the Inuit, pupils learn how snow blocks keep heat in. In science: snow is a good insulator, so an igloo can be much warmer inside than outside. In everyday play children build snow igloos. Phrases: build an igloo.

Examples

• The Inuit hunters built an igloo for the night. tree →
• It is warmer inside an igloo than outside in the wind. tree →
• We tried to build an igloo in the snow. tree →
• The igloo has a low tunnel for a door. tree →
• Our tent is shaped like an igloo. tree →
• Snow blocks were cut with a long knife to make the igloo. tree →

Note

Plural: igloos. «an igloo» because it starts with a vowel sound. Myth: Inuit people do not all live in igloos all year — they were mostly used as winter or travel shelters, and today most live in houses. The word comes from the Inuit word for house.