snowbank

Everyday

1. A snowbank is a big pile or wall of snow, often made by wind or by snowploughs pushing snow to the side of a road. tree →
2. It is a long mound of snow along a road, path or field. tree →

In the lessons

Common in snowy places such as Canada and the northern USA. In everyday life, cars get stuck in snowbanks and children climb them. Safety: do not dig tunnels or play in snowbanks near roads, because snowploughs may not see you and the snow can collapse.

Examples

• The snowplough left a huge snowbank by our driveway. tree →
• The car slid into a snowbank. tree →
• We jumped off the snowbank into soft snow. tree →
• Snowbanks lined both sides of the street. tree →
• Don't build a fort in a snowbank next to the road. tree →
• The dog disappeared into the snowbank and came out white. tree →
• After the blizzard the snowbanks were taller than me. tree →

Note

Countable noun, one word: «a snowbank, snowbanks». A «snowdrift» is snow piled up by the wind; a snowbank is often made by people or ploughs. Snowbanks near roads are dangerous places to play.