Rime is the white, feathery ice that forms when water vapor in foggy or misty air freezes onto cold surfaces like tree branches, power lines, fence posts, or ship rigging. Unlike the smooth glaze of freezing rain, rime has a delicate, crystalline texture that makes frozen trees look like they've been decorated with white lace.

Rime forms in specific conditions: when tiny water droplets in fog touch something very cold (below freezing), they freeze on contact, building up layer by layer. Mountain climbers often encounter rime on peaks where clouds meet cold rock. In winter, you might wake up to find rime coating every twig and pine needle in your yard after a foggy, freezing night.

The word can also appear in the phrase rime ice, which sailors and pilots watch out for because it can build up dangerously on ships and aircraft. While rime looks magical and beautiful, like nature's elaborate frost art, it forms through a fascinating process where water changes from vapor to solid ice right on the surface.