thaw

Thaw is defined as to rise in temperature above the freezing point, or to become unfrozen.

(verb)

An example of thaw is to defrost meat.

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See thaw in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

    1. to become liquid or semiliquid; melt: said of ice, snow, etc.
    2. to pass to an unfrozen state: said of frozen foods
    3. to have its contents melt: underground water pipes thaw in the spring
  1. to rise in temperature above the freezing point, so that snow, etc. melts: said of weather conditions, with impersonal it[it will thaw tomorrow]
    1. to get rid of the chill, stiffness, etc. resulting from extreme cold: often with out
    2. to lose coldness or reserve of manner

Origin: ME thawen < OE thawian, akin to Du dooien, Ger (ver)dauen, to digest < IE base *tā-, to melt, dissolve, flow > L tabere, to melt, vanish

transitive verb

to cause to thaw

noun

  1. the act of thawing
  2. a spell of weather warm enough to allow thawing
  3. a becoming less reserved in manner

See thaw in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb thawed, thaw·ing, thaws
verb, intransitive
  1. To change from a frozen solid to a liquid by gradual warming.
  2. To lose stiffness, numbness, or impermeability by being warmed: left the frozen turkey out until it thawed; thawed out by sitting next to the stove.
  3. To become warm enough for snow and ice to melt.
  4. To become less formal, aloof, or reserved.
verb, transitive
To cause to thaw.
noun
  1. The process of thawing.
  2. A period of warm weather during which ice and snow melt.
  3. A relaxation of reserve, restraints, or tensions.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English thawen

Origin: , from Old English thawian

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