freeze-up
Americannoun
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a freezing over of a body of water in an area.
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a period of below-freezing temperatures.
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the condition of being immobilized or inoperative through freezing.
car engine freeze-up in winter.
noun
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a period of freezing or extremely cold weather
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the freezing of lakes, rivers, and topsoil in autumn or early winter
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the time of year when this occurs
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Etymology
Origin of freeze-up
1875–80, noun use of verb phrase freeze up
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.
A single freeze-up can knock out an entire weapons platform or immobilize a convoy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 27, 2025
This is partly as a result of a late freeze-up of ice around Hudson Bay, with unusually warm ocean waters taking a long time to cool down.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2025
After the freeze-up in July, CNN reported McConnell fell two other times this year.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2023
After last week’s freeze-up, the attending physician to Congress cleared McConnell to continue with his planned schedule.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 5, 2023
Mama was worried that Deydey would not manage to make the crossing before the freeze-up.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
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.
