Meaning

To gradually cause (something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow) to melt or soften by raising the temperature..

Definitions by Sense

1. To gradually cause (something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow) to melt or soften by raising the temperature.
2. To gradually cause (someone or something that is very cold) to warm up.
3. To cause (something inactive) to become active; also, to cause (something unfeeling) to have feelings.
4. To cause (someone or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly) to become friendly or gentle.
5. To cause (something rigid) to become limp.
6. Of something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow: to gradually melt or soften as a result of the temperature being raised.
7. Of someone or something that is very cold: to gradually warm up.
8. With the dummy pronoun it: of the weather: to become sufficiently warm for ice, snow, etc., to melt.

Example Sentences

Sette the potte to the fyre to thawe the water: […]

Miſlike me not for my complexion, / The ſhadovved liuery of the burniſht ſunne, / To vvhom I am a neighbour,and neere bred. / Bring me the faireſt creature North-vvard borne, / VVhere Phœbus fire ſcarce thawes the yſicles, / And let vs make inciſion for your loue, / To proue vvhoſe blood is reddeſt, his or mine.

The Frame of burniſh'd Steel, that caſt a Glare / From far, and ſeem'd to thavv the freezing Air.

There is a Plant that grovvs on Mount Libanus in Syria, vvhich the Arabian calls the Golden Herb; it begins to appear in the Month of May, after the Snovv is thavvn; in the tvvilight it appears all in a Flame, and continues like a Torch until Morning, vvithout diminution of its Subſtance.

But Mr. Bailly vvill ſooner thavv the eternal ice of his atlantic regions, than reſtore the central heat to Paris, […]

I weep for Adonais—he is dead! / O, weep for Adonais! though our tears / Thaw not the frost which binds so dear a head!

A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.

A further complication is that, in the winter, the ore arrives frozen stiff in the wagons and special arrangements have to be made for thawing it before it can be unloaded.

Word Forms

• thaws
• thawing
• thawed
• thawn
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• thaw
• thawest
• thawedst
• thaweth
• -
• thow

Synonyms for thaw

Related Words

When Should You Use Thaw?

Use thaw when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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