Thinly-snowed

Describing a surface, typically ground or vegetation, that is covered by a sparse or light layer of snow. This implies an incomplete, delicate, or almost transparent coating of snow, where underlying features remain partially visible. The snow cover is not substantial enough to significantly alter the appearance or accessibility of the surface. It suggests a dusting of snow, potentially a recent snowfall or one that is melting away. The implication is that the snow cover is fragile and could easily be displaced by wind or mild temperature changes. The term emphasizes the lack of depth and the minimal visual impact of the snowfall.

Thinly-snowed meaning with examples

• The park, usually a vibrant green, was now subtly transformed. The grass, thinly-snowed, retained its color in patches, creating a speckled pattern. Sunlight glanced off the glistening blades, highlighting the delicate beauty of the scene. Footprints left by the early morning joggers were barely obscured, offering glimpses of the untouched earth beneath the fragile, icy veneer.
• Waking to a vista of the highlands, the peaks were thinly-snowed. Jagged rocks jutted out from the pale drifts. The effect was ethereal; a winter scene softened by the exposed stone. The low-lying valleys revealed a tapestry of brown and yellow vegetation, unaffected by the brief wintry visitor, leaving an uneven, artistic brushstroke.
• The farmer surveyed his fields; The crops were thinly-snowed. The weak layer couldn't act as much protection from the frost. He hoped the coming days would allow for the thaw, allowing the soil to warm, before another onslaught could wreak havoc.
• The photographer, hoping for a striking winter image, had waited for the perfect light. The forest floor was thinly-snowed, giving the tree trunks a dramatic backdrop. Through the snow, the textures of dead leaves were visible. Sunlight was now highlighting the branches which were now encrusted with the precious ice.