A snowflake is a single ice crystal, whereas snow is a collection of many snowflakes.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Snowflake: A single, individual crystal of ice that forms in the atmosphere. These crystals have a unique and often intricate structure, thanks to variations in temperature and humidity as they form and fall. The iconic six-sided shape of a snowflake is due to the crystalline structure of water ice.
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Snow: Snow is the term used to describe the precipitation itself - the accumulation of many individual snowflakes falling from the sky. Therefore, snow is composed of numerous snowflakes. You can think of snowflakes as the "building blocks" of snow.
In essence, the difference is one of scale: A snowflake is a single unit, while snow is the collective mass.
| Feature | Snowflake | Snow |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Single ice crystal | Accumulation of many snowflakes |
| Composition | One ice crystal | Many ice crystals (snowflakes) |
| Visual | Often intricate and symmetrical | Appears as a blanket or covering |
| Precipitation | Contributes to snow | Is the precipitation of ice crystals |
Therefore, if you look closely at falling snow, you might be able to distinguish individual snowflakes. On the other hand, when you talk about the weather, you're referring to "snow" falling, meaning the collective phenomenon of many snowflakes falling together.
