freeze Definition
freeze (frēz)
intransitive verb froze, fro′·zen, freez′·ing
- to be formed into ice; be hardened or solidified by cold
- to become covered or clogged with ice
- to be or become very cold
- to become attached by freezing wheels frozen to the ground
- to die or be damaged by exposure to cold
- ☆ to become motionless or fixed
- to be made momentarily speechless or unable to move or act by a strong, sudden emotion to freeze with terror
- to become formal, haughty, or unfriendly
- 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
- to cause to form into ice; harden or solidify by cold
- to cover or clog with ice
- to make very cold; chill
- to remove sensation from, as with a local anesthetic
- to preserve (food) by solidifying it through rapid refrigeration
- to make fixed or attached by freezing
- to kill or damage by exposure to cold
- to make or keep motionless or stiff
- ☆ to frighten or discourage by cool behavior, unfriendliness, etc.
- to make formal, haughty, or unfriendly
- ☆
- to fix (prices, employment, an employee, etc.) at a given level or place by authoritative regulation
- to stop consumer production or use of (a critical material), as in wartime
- to make (funds, assets, etc.) unavailable to the owners
- to suspend the production of (weapons, esp. nuclear weapons)
noun
- a freezing or being frozen
- a period of cold, freezing weather; a frost
freeze Related Forms
freeze Idioms
freeze (on) to
☆Informal to cling to; hold fast to
freeze out
- ☆ to die out through freezing, as plants
- ☆ Informal to keep out or force out by a cold manner, competition, etc.
freeze Synonyms
freeze
v.
To change to a solid state
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. To halt
fix, arrest, suspend, become immobilized; see halt 2, stop 1.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
- ‹ freewill
- ‹ freewheeling
- ‹ freewheel
- ‹ freeway
- ‹ freeware
- ‹ Freetown
- ‹ freethinker
- ‹ freestyle
- ‹ freestone
- ‹ freest
- freeze-dry ›
- freeze frame ›
- freezer ›
- freezing ›
- freezing point ›
- Frege ›
- Freiburg ›
- freight ›
- freight car ›
- freight house ›

