freezing point

American  

noun

Physical Chemistry.

1. the temperature at which a liquid freezes.

   The freezing point of water is 32°F, 0°C.

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freezing point British  

noun

1. the temperature below which a liquid turns into a solid. It is equal to the melting point

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freezing point Scientific  

/ frē′zĭng /

1. The temperature at which a liquid, releasing sufficient heat, becomes a solid. For a given substance, the freezing point of its liquid form is the same as the melting point of its solid form, and depends on such factors as the purity of the substance and the surrounding pressure. The freezing point of water at a pressure of one atmosphere is 0°C (32°F); that of liquid nitrogen is −209.89°C (−345.8°F).

2. See also state of matter

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freezing point Cultural  

1. The temperature at which a liquid changes into a solid; the same temperature as the melting point. (See phases of matter.)

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Discover More

Water freezes at thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (see also Fahrenheit) or zero degrees Celsius.

Etymology

Origin of freezing point

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

US-produced Jet A has a higher freezing point from the Jet A‑1 fuel used elsewhere in the world -- making it less resistant to very low temperatures during long-haul flights.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

Although essentially similar to the fuel used in Europe, Jet A1, it has a higher freezing point, and is not currently permitted in the UK.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

A dash of greenhouse effect is useful -- without it, Earth would have an average temperature below the freezing point of water, looking like a ball covered with ice and hostile to life.

From Science Daily • Dec. 18, 2023

As ice crystals start to form, the concentration of sugars and other dissolved materials in the unfrozen liquid increases, which further lowers its freezing point.

From Salon • Jul. 25, 2023

When the morning came, a northwest breeze brought warmer air, raising the temperature almost up to the freezing point, but with rain and sleet falling, the men were still covered in ice.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong