thaw
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.
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.
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.
Origin of thaw
1synonym study For thaw
Other words for thaw
Opposites for thaw
Other words from thaw
- thawless, adjective
- re·thaw, verb
- un·der·thaw, verb
- un·thawed, adjective
- un·thaw·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with thaw
- 1. evanesce, evaporate, liquefy, melt, thaw , transpire, vaporize
- 2. evanescence, evaporation, liquefaction, melting, thawing , transpiration, vaporization
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use thaw in a sentence
The beef remains in this condition until it is thawed, ensuring the freshness and quality from when it was originally frozen.
I serve creamed pearl onions—yes—with a few thawed frozen peas tossed in as well.
I thought that the frozen surface of the American woman thawed on the stratum soubrette.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonHis run had set a pleasant glow upon his skin and seemed to have thawed the frozen condition of his joints.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniTo-day, however, Randulf had quite thawed him; he became lively, and even swore twice without being aware of it.
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange Kielland
We worked waist-deep in it part of the time, and thawed out every stick of giant-powder at the fire.
The Gold Trail | Harold BindlossAunt Maria tried to look stern at the compliment, but eventually thawed into a smile over it.
Overland | John William De Forest
British Dictionary definitions for thaw
/ (θɔː) /
to melt or cause to melt from a solid frozen state: the snow thawed
to become or cause to become unfrozen; defrost
(intr) to be the case that the ice or snow is melting: it's thawing fast
(intr) to become more sociable, relaxed, or friendly
the act or process of thawing
a spell of relatively warm weather, causing snow or ice to melt
an increase in relaxation or friendliness
Origin of thaw
1Derived forms of thaw
- thawer, noun
- thawless, adjective
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
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