freeze-up

American  

[freez-uhp] / ˈfrizˌʌp /

noun

Informal.

1. a freezing over of a body of water in an area.

2. a period of below-freezing temperatures.

3. the condition of being immobilized or inoperative through freezing.

   car engine freeze-up in winter.

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freeze-up British  

noun

1. a period of freezing or extremely cold weather

2. 1. the freezing of lakes, rivers, and topsoil in autumn or early winter

   2. 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

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

Doctors rarely get the chance to see a patient’s spells on camera, and, in McConnell’s case, two of his freeze-up moments were caught on tape.

From Slate • Sep. 1, 2023

Mama was worried that Deydey would not manage to make the crossing before the freeze-up.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

Related Words

• lose it
• overreact
• scare