frost
a degree or state of coldness sufficient to cause the freezing of water.
Also called hoarfrost . a covering of minute ice needles, formed from the atmosphere at night upon the ground and exposed objects when they have cooled by radiation below the dew point, and when the dew point is below the freezing point.
an opaque coating of tiny, white, granular ice particles, formed on the walls or contents of a freezer by the condensation of water vapor; rime.
the act or process of freezing.
coldness of manner or temperament: We noticed a definite frost in his greeting.
Informal. a coolness between persons.
a milkshake, frappe, or similar drink: a chocolate frost.
to cover with frost.
to give a frostlike surface to (glass, metal, etc.).
to ice (a cake, cookies, etc.).
to bleach selected strands of (a person's hair) in order to create highlights.
to kill or injure by frost: a freezing rain that badly frosted the tomato plants.
to make angry: I was frosted by his critical comment.
to become covered with frost (often followed by up or over): The windshield has frosted over.
(of varnish, paint, etc.) to dry with a film resembling frost.
Idioms about frost
degree of frost, British. the degree of temperature Fahrenheit below the freezing point: 10 degrees of frost is equivalent to 22°F.
Origin of frost
1Other words for frost
5 | aloofness, indifference, distance, reserve, remoteness, coolness |
Other words from frost
- frostless, adjective
- frostlike, adjective
- un·frost, verb (used with object)
Other definitions for Frost (2 of 2)
Robert (Lee), 1874–1963, U.S. poet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use frost in a sentence
When those marginal lands ceased to produce due to frosts and floods, the millions of extra mouths to be fed remained.
When the Weather Went All Medieval: Climate Change, Famine, and Mass Death | Wendy Smith | June 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFrosts in mid-April destroyed nearly 10 percent of the appellation's crop, with losses as high as 40 percent in some areas.
Bad News for the Bubbly: Champagne Suffers Worst Season in Decades | The Telegraph | August 17, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen grown on very low ground the plants should be "set" early, so as to harvest before early frosts.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.Mists or hoar frosts on the tenth of March betokens (sic) a plentiful year, but not without some diseases.
It was one of those frosts which make the lights in the windows of an hotel look doubly tempting.
Chicot the Jester | Alexandre Dumas, Pere
In many years there is no such thing as snow, and frosts are not frequent, and never severe.
Over 7000 ft. the climate becomes distinctly colder and frosts are experienced.
British Dictionary definitions for frost (1 of 2)
/ (frɒst) /
a white deposit of ice particles, esp one formed on objects out of doors at night: See also hoarfrost
an atmospheric temperature of below freezing point, characterized by the production of this deposit
degrees below freezing point: eight degrees of frost indicates a temperature of either –8°C or 24°F
informal something given a cold reception; failure
informal coolness of manner
the act of freezing
to cover or be covered with frost
(tr) to give a frostlike appearance to (glass, etc), as by means of a fine-grained surface
(tr) mainly US and Canadian to decorate (cakes, etc) with icing or frosting
(tr) to kill or damage (crops, etc) with frost
Origin of frost
1Derived forms of frost
- frostlike, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Frost (2 of 2)
/ (frɒst) /
Sir David (Paradine). born 1939, British television presenter and executive, noted esp for political interviews
Robert (Lee). 1874–1963, US poet, noted for his lyrical verse on country life in New England. His books include A Boy's Will (1913), North of Boston (1914), and New Hampshire (1923)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for frost
[ frôst ]
A deposit of tiny, white ice crystals on a surface. Frost forms through sublimation, when water vapor in the air condenses at a temperature below freezing. It gets its white color from tiny air bubbles trapped in the ice crystals. See more at dew point.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse