defrost
Americanverb (used with object)
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to remove the frost or ice from.
to defrost a refrigerator; to defrost the windshield of a car.
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to thaw or partially thaw (frozen food).
verb (used without object)
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to become free of ice or frost.
The refrigerator defrosted quickly.
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to thaw, as frozen food.
The meat took two hours to defrost.
verb
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to make or become free of frost or ice
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to thaw, esp through removal from a refrigerator
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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defrostsimple
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defrostssimple
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have defrostedperfect
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has defrostedperfect
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am defrostingprogressive
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are defrostingprogressive
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is defrostingprogressive
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have been defrostingperfect progressive
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has been defrostingperfect progressive
Past
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defrostedsimple
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had defrostedperfect
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was defrostingprogressive
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were defrostingprogressive
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had been defrostingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of defrost
Explanation
To defrost something is to thaw it, or bring it from a state of being frozen to room temperature. You can defrost frozen shrimp by running them under cool water for several minutes. You have to defrost frozen food before you can eat it, and often before you can properly cook it. You might also need to defrost your icy windshield in the winter before you can drive your car. The word defrost comes from the Old English forst — before the 15th century, the words forst and frost were used interchangeably. When it's combined with de-, "off, away, or undo," it means "free of ice or frost."
Vocabulary lists containing defrost
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: de-
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Spelling Practice 1, Unit 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Undeterred, activists in Minneapolis have sought to turn the tables by creating "Defrost MN," a searchable database of ICE vehicles active in the city.
From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026
Defrost, if needed, and reheat before adding the pasta.
From Washington Post • Mar. 17, 2023
To reheat: Defrost in the refrigerator, if frozen, then warm in a 400-degree oven for about 10 minutes.
From Washington Post • Feb. 8, 2023
Defrost at room temperature and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
From Salon • Nov. 6, 2021
Defrost fully in the refrigerator or at room temperature before reheating in the microwave or a pot.
From Fox News • Oct. 21, 2021
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
