freeze Hear it!

freeze Definition

freeze (frēz)

intransitive verb froze, fro′·zen, freez′·ing

  1. to be formed into ice; be hardened or solidified by cold
  2. to become covered or clogged with ice
  3. to be or become very cold
  4. to become attached by freezing wheels frozen to the ground
  5. to die or be damaged by exposure to cold
  6. ☆ to become motionless or fixed
  7. to be made momentarily speechless or unable to move or act by a strong, sudden emotion to freeze with terror
  8. to become formal, haughty, or unfriendly
  9. Mech. to stick or become tight as a result of expansion of parts caused by overheating, increased friction due to inadequate lubrication or corrosion, etc.

Etymology: ME fresen < OE freosan, akin to OHG friosan (Ger frieren) < IE base *preus-, to freeze, burn like cold > L pruina, hoarfrost, pruna, glowing coals

transitive verb

  1. to cause to form into ice; harden or solidify by cold
  2. to cover or clog with ice
  3. to make very cold; chill
  4. to remove sensation from, as with a local anesthetic
  5. to preserve (food) by solidifying it through rapid refrigeration
  6. to make fixed or attached by freezing
  7. to kill or damage by exposure to cold
  8. to make or keep motionless or stiff
  9. ☆ to frighten or discourage by cool behavior, unfriendliness, etc.
  10. to make formal, haughty, or unfriendly
  11. ☆
    1. to fix (prices, employment, an employee, etc.) at a given level or place by authoritative regulation
    2. to stop consumer production or use of (a critical material), as in wartime
    3. to make (funds, assets, etc.) unavailable to the owners
    4. to suspend the production of (weapons, esp. nuclear weapons)

noun

  1. a freezing or being frozen
  2. a period of cold, freezing weather; a frost

freeze Related Forms

freez′·able adjective

freeze Idioms

freeze (on) to

☆

Informal to cling to; hold fast to

freeze out

  1. ☆ to die out through freezing, as plants
  2. ☆ Informal to keep out or force out by a cold manner, competition, etc.

freeze Synonyms

freeze

v.

  1. To change to a solid state

    congeal, harden, solidify, ice, stiffen, glaciate, ice up.

    Antonyms melt*, thaw*, liquefy. *

  2. To make cold

    chill, refrigerate, ice, quick-freeze, deep-freeze, flash-freeze, nip, bite, cool, pierce, chill to the marrow, make one's teeth chatter, numb, anesthetize, benumb.

    Antonyms heat, warm, cook.

  3. To halt

    fix, arrest, suspend, become immobilized; see halt 2, stop 1.

  4. To discourage

    dishearten, depress, dampen; see discourage 1.

freeze Usage Examples

Object

  • asset: Regular publication by its members of the amount of suspected terrorist assets frozen, in accordance with the appropriate United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
  • embryo: Ex-situ conservation of genetic resources, by holding breeding groups in zoos or as embryos frozen in genebanks, is effective but too costly.
  • madness: Also animal rights group bank account frozen, courtroom madness, illegal logging and more.

Converse of object

impose: They cut the number of doctors in training and they imposed a freeze on nurses ' pay.

Adjective modifier

  • deep: I still have some zebra in the deep freeze for the cubs which they will enjoy.
  • three-year: Last year Mr Redwood declared a three-year freeze on management numbers.
  • hell: I went to see their " Hell Freezes Over " concert at Murrayfield Stadium almost 10 years ago.

Modifies a noun

  • thaw: The sauna has provided entertainment as we undertook ' freeze thaw ' .
  • frame: Thus we saw a freeze frame or an image from each story in turn.

Modifying Another Word

cryogenically: David is brought into a family whose real son is currently cryogenically frozen and in a coma.

Followed by an intransitive particle

over: The Havel lake froze over for about three months, which enabled us to try ice skating.

Adjective complement

  • solid: Ford Taurus frozen solid, wanted boot access... Coach Davis?
  • stiff: They found him three days later, frozen stiff in that old truck.

Present participle complement

pend: This was to free royalties that had been frozen pending resolution of a plagiarism claim.

Preposition: in

  • nitrogen: Crystals were flash frozen in liquid nitrogen, at intervals, following exposure to substrate.
  • tray: It can also be frozen in ice cube trays or in ice lolly molds.
  • winter: The summit bog when frozen in winter can give an easy option.
  • terror: She freezes in terror as Frank enters the room.

Noun used with modifier

  • wage: Unions seek urgent Granada talks ITV Unions are seeking urgent talks with Granada on a proposed wage freeze.
  • recruitment: Across the UK, there are reports that newly-qualified nurses are struggling to find Band 5 posts because trusts have imposed recruitment freezes.

Browse dictionary entries near freeze

  1. ‹ freewill
  2. ‹ freewheeling
  3. ‹ freewheel
  4. ‹ freeway
  5. ‹ freeware
  6. ‹ Freetown
  7. ‹ freethinker
  8. ‹ freestyle
  9. ‹ freestone
  10. ‹ freest
  1. freeze-dry ›
  2. freeze frame ›
  3. freezer ›
  4. freezing ›
  5. freezing point ›
  6. Frege ›
  7. Freiburg ›
  8. freight ›
  9. freight car ›
  10. freight house ›