sleet.

Precipitation consisting of small ice pellets, or, especially in British usage, a mixture of rain and snow.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• driving sleet
• sleet shower
• sleet against the window

On the page

Sleet ticked against the tent fly.

By dusk, the rain had turned to sleet.

She pulled her hood forward as sleet struck her cheeks.

Usage notes

Primary category: environment. Regional meaning differs; distinguish either use from larger hailstones and surface ice from freezing rain. Mass noun; Verb: sleet, sleets, sleeted, sleeting.