thaw

[ thaw ]

/ θɔ /

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See synonyms for: thaw / thawed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to pass or change from a frozen to a liquid or semiliquid state; melt.

to be freed from the physical effect of frost or extreme cold (sometimes followed by out): Sit by the fire and thaw out.

(of the weather) to become warm enough to melt ice and snow: It will probably thaw today.

to become less formal, reserved, or aloof: He thawed at their kindness.

to become less hostile or tense: International relations thawed.

verb (used with object)

to cause to change from a frozen to a liquid or semiliquid state; melt.

to free from the physical effect of frost or extreme cold; bring to a more normal temperature, especially to room temperature: I took the steaks out of the freezer and thawed them.

to make less cold, formal, or reserved.

to make less tense or hostile.

noun

the act or process of thawing.

the act or fact of becoming less formal, reserved, or aloof.

a reduction or easing in tension or hostility.

(in winter or in areas where freezing weather is the norm) weather warm enough to melt ice and snow.

a period of such weather: We had a two-week thaw in January.

the thaw, the first day in the year when ice in harbors, rivers, etc., breaks up or loosens enough to begin flowing to the sea, allowing navigation: The Anchorage thaw came on May 18th.

OTHER WORDS FOR thaw

2, 8 warm.

See synonyms for thaw on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR thaw

1 freeze.

See antonyms for thaw on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Which sentence is correct?

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

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

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Origin of thaw

First recorded before 1000; (verb) Middle English thawen,Old English thawian; cognate with Dutch dooien,Old Norse theyja; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the verb

synonym study for thaw

1. See melt¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM thaw

thawless, adjectivere·thaw, verbun·der·thaw, verbun·thawed, adjective

un·thaw·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH thaw

1. evanesce, evaporate, liquefy, melt, thaw , transpire, vaporize2. evanescence, evaporation, liquefaction, melting, thawing , transpiration, vaporization

Words nearby thaw

thaumatology, thaumatrope, thaumaturge, thaumaturgic, thaumaturgy, thaw, Thaxter, Thayer, Th.B., THC, Th.D.

How to use thaw in a sentence

The arrival of McDonald’s—an iconic symbol of American capitalism—in the Soviet Union was emblematic of a wider thaw in Soviet-American tensions.
As Starbucks Exits Russia, Another Symbol of American Capitalism Fades|Eloise Barry|May 24, 2022|Time
Instead of a steady trickle of water through spring, this earlier thaw leaves less to flow into rivers and groundwater during increasingly hot, dry summers.
Dust clouds are killing people out West—and the dangers could spread|Virginia Gewin|February 24, 2022|Popular-Science
Even more significant, though, was that IBM’s triumph felt like a thaw in the long AI winter.
What the history of AI tells us about its future|Clive Thompson|February 18, 2022|MIT Technology Review
The fact that there could be an increase in emissions from permafrost thaw or an increase in global sea level rise, it is a global problem, and it needs a global answer.
Arctic rainfall will surpass snowfall by 2060, predictions show|Hannah Seo|December 1, 2021|Popular-Science

We cannot safely keep up with the accelerating rate of landslide movement caused by permafrost thaw.
A Climate Change-Induced Landslide Is Wreaking Havoc on Denali National Park|Andrew R. Chow / Denali, Alaska|September 7, 2021|Time
After a half-century of frigid relations, the U.S. and Cuba have agreed to a thaw as the result of 18 months of secret talks.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Everything you need to know about the U.S.-Cuba thaw, from the details of the deal to when you can book your ticket to Havana.
Up To Speed: The Cuba Embargo|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The thaw between Washington and Cuba finally begins to close a chapter of the Cold War.
Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?|Richard McColl|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The issue can be complicated by a thaw followed by a freeze, or by pre-existing ice.
As de Blasio Loses Roker, Call In the Weather Detective|Michael Daly|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so the election arrives with no thaw in relations between the Yingluck and Suthep camps.
Thai Election Not Likely To Resolve Protests|Lennox Samuels|February 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The beverage warmed him in body; but it would need a butt of it to thaw the misery from his soul.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
But, under the influences of the blind god, the stern student of the "Dairyman's Daughter" seemed to thaw.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Groups of them come out to the top of the ant-hill to warm and thaw themselves in the rays of the sun.
The Animal Story Book|Various
Shorty had become nearly frozen sitting there motionless, and he got up and went to the fire to thaw out.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6)|John McElroy
I trust the sun that shines o'er noble and voluptuous Venice will thaw the ice winter has piled within your brain!
Autobiographical Reminiscences with Family Letters and Notes on Music|Charles Gounod

British Dictionary definitions for thaw

thaw

/ (θɔː) /

verb

to melt or cause to melt from a solid frozen statethe snow thawed

to become or cause to become unfrozen; defrost

(intr) to be the case that the ice or snow is meltingit's thawing fast

(intr) to become more sociable, relaxed, or friendly

noun

the act or process of thawing

a spell of relatively warm weather, causing snow or ice to melt

an increase in relaxation or friendliness

Derived forms of thaw

thawer, nounthawless, adjective

Word Origin for thaw

Old English thawian; related to Old High German douwen to thaw, Old Norse theyja to thaw, Latin tabēre to waste away

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

thaw

OTHER WORDS FOR thaw

OPPOSITES FOR thaw

Origin of thaw

synonym study for thaw

OTHER WORDS FROM thaw

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH thaw

Words nearby thaw

Words related to thaw

How to use thaw in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for thaw

Derived forms of thaw

Word Origin for thaw