snowflake
UK: ˈsnəʊfleɪk | US: ˈsnoʊfleɪk
n. a small, delicate piece of snow falling from the sky
n. (informal, often derogatory) a person who is overly sensitive or easily offended
n. (computing) a unique identifier or pattern in data
The word "snowflake" combines "snow," from Old English snāw (related to frozen precipitation), and "flake," from Old Norse flak (meaning "loose or flat piece"). The term originally described the delicate ice crystals formed in snow, emphasizing their fragile, unique structure. The modern metaphorical use (referring to a sensitive person) arose in the 2010s, drawing on the idea of individuality and fragility.
A single snowflake landed on her glove, its intricate design visible for a moment before melting.
Critics mocked him for being a "snowflake" after he complained about the joke.
Each snowflake has a unique hexagonal pattern.
The database uses snowflake IDs to ensure no duplicates are generated.
Children caught snowflakes on their tongues during the winter storm.