snowflake

Everyday

1. A single piece of snow made of ice crystals, usually with six points or sides. tree →
2. (slang, insulting) A person said to be too easily upset or offended. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons snowflakes form when water vapour freezes in clouds; they have six-fold symmetry, which links to maths lessons on symmetry. In crafts, children cut paper snowflakes. The slang sense is used as an insult in arguments; it is unkind. Phrases: no two snowflakes are alike, paper snowflake.

Examples

• A snowflake landed on my glove. tree →
• Every snowflake has six sides. tree →
• We cut paper snowflakes for the window. tree →
• Snowflakes drifted down past the streetlight. tree →
• Scientists photograph snowflakes under a microscope. tree →
• (slang, unkind) He called his cousin a snowflake for crying at the film. tree →

Note

Countable. «No two snowflakes are exactly alike» is widely said; it is very likely but cannot be proved for every flake. A snowflake has rotational symmetry of order 6.