frostbite

[ frawst-bahyt, frost- ]

/ ˈfrɔstˌbaɪt, ˈfrɒst- /

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See synonyms for frostbite on Thesaurus.com

noun

injury to any part of the body after excessive exposure to extreme cold, sometimes progressing from initial redness and tingling to gangrene.

verb (used with object), frost·bit, frost·bit·ten, frost·bit·ing.

to injure by frost or extreme cold.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of frostbite

First recorded in 1605–15; frost + bite

Words nearby frostbite

front-wheel drive, frore, frosh, frost, Frostbelt, frostbite, frostbite sailing, frostbitten, frost boil, frosted, frostfish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use frostbite in a sentence

In my reporting for this column, I heard time and again that many cast members suffer from medical maladies like frostbite, parasites, vitamin deficiencies, or extreme fatigue.
The ‘Alone’ Finale Left Us Feeling Heartbroken|Fred Dreier|August 5, 2022|Outside Online
If we haven’t got frostbite so far, we’ll surely be strong candidates in these bags.
A 237-Hour Nightmare: Inside this Terrifying, Frostbitten First Ascent of Nepal’s Baruntse|cobrien|January 30, 2022|Outside Online
As much as she loves downhill skiing, that simply wasn’t going to happen—hitting the slopes felt like we’d be risking frostbite to most of our toes.
Get your kids’ hearts beating by teaching them to cross-country ski|Noah Lederman|January 28, 2022|Popular-Science
Even if they fall off a cliff, you don’t know whether it was a consequence of impaired balance and cognitive function due to altitude illness, or perhaps a loss of coordination from frostbite.
Why Do Climbers Really Die on Everest?|Alex Hutchinson|May 19, 2021|Outside Online

Frozen toes at the bottom of your sleeping bag, the fear of frostbite looming in the back of your mind, and the ever-present possibility that you didn’t bring enough layers.
How to stay warm while sleeping in the frigid outdoors|Alisha McDarris|February 12, 2021|Popular-Science
Many others who survived suffered severe frostbite and have had or soon will undergo amputations.
Nepal’s Deadliest Avalanche Was Totally Avoidable|Dick Dorworth|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Let's hope he didn't get frostbite - here's the science of getting naked in antarctica.
Nude At The South Pole, It's Alexander Skarsgard, NOT Prince Harry (This Time!)|Tom Sykes|January 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They can also give you frostbite on your face or even kill you.
Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Whip-Its|Winston Ross|March 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In a fall show dubbed "frostbite," Jenden sent cool, sleek concoctions down the runway.
London's New Look|Alisa Gould-Simon|February 27, 2009|DAILY BEAST
This bone-chilling week, they are perhaps just a surer way to avoid frostbite.
But Can We Still Have Fun?|Kathleen Parker|January 19, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Except for a touch of frostbite on his toes and fingers, Barrent was all right.
The Status Civilization|Robert Sheckley
They had not been able to frostbite her yet because she had been too young; but they would get her presently.
The Pastor's Wife|Elizabeth von Arnim
The cold burned our cheeks a fierce brick-red, and a frostbite showed on them like a patch of white putty.
The Trail of '98|Robert W. Service
To expose flesh was to feel instantly the sharp sting that heralds frostbite.
The Trail of '98|Robert W. Service
The fun of snow-shoeing, mitigated by frostbite, quickly degenerated from a sport into a mere means of locomotion.
The Magnetic North|Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)

British Dictionary definitions for frostbite

frostbite

/ (ˈfrɒstˌbaɪt) /

noun

destruction of tissues, esp those of the fingers, ears, toes, and nose, by freezing, characterized by tingling, blister formation, and gangrene

NZ a type of small sailing dinghy

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 frostbite

frostbite

[ frôst′bīt′ ]

Damage to a part of the body as a result of exposure to freezing temperatures. It is caused by a loss of blood supply and the formation of ice crystals in the affected body part.

frostbite

Origin of frostbite

Words nearby frostbite

Words related to frostbite

How to use frostbite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for frostbite

Scientific definitions for frostbite