Freeze

/ˈfɹiːz/ · verb

Meaning

(intransitive, copulative) Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive, copulative) Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature.
2. (transitive) To lower something's temperature to the point that it freezes or becomes hard.
3. (intransitive) To drop to a temperature below zero degrees celsius, where water turns to ice.
4. (intransitive, informal) To be affected by extreme cold.
5. (intransitive, computing, software, idiomatic) Of a machine or system, to come to a sudden halt, to stop working (functioning).
6. (intransitive, idiomatic) Of a person or other animal, to stop (become motionless) or be stopped due to attentiveness, fear, surprise, etc.
7. (transitive) To cause someone to become motionless.
8. (figuratively) To lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling; to shut out; to ostracize.

Example Sentences

The lake froze solid.

1855, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha, Book XX: The Famine, Ever thicker, thicker, thicker / Froze the ice on lake and river,

1915, Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson, The How and Why Library: Wonders, Section II: Water, Running water does not freeze as easily as still water.

He got to Dawson before the river froze, and now I suppose I won't hear any more until spring.

Don't freeze meat twice.

1888, Elias Lönnrot, John Martin Crawford (translator, from German), The Kalevala, Rune XXX: The Frost-fiend, Freeze the wizard in his vessel, / Freeze to ice the wicked Ahti, ...

It didn't freeze this winter, but last winter was very harsh.

It's freezing in here!

Synonyms for freeze

Antonyms for freeze

Related Words

Word Forms

• freezes
• freezing
• froze
• frore
• frozen

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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