ice dam noun4 •An obstruction to the flow of a river caused by the flow of a glacier across its course. •An obstruction to the flow of a river caused by the concatenation of surface ice into a ridge that rises above and sinks below the surface causing a blockage, occurring frequently during spring breakup season. •A mass of ice formed at the transition from a warm to a cold roof surface, frequently formed by refreezing meltwater at the overhang of a steep roof, causing ice and water to back up under roofing materials. •Ellipsis of ice dam membrane. formsice dams