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thaw definition

thaw (t̸hô)

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
  2. 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

Etymology: 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

thaw Synonyms

thaw

v.

  1. To melt

    dissolve, liquefy, flow, run, deliquesce, liquate, fuse, become liquid; see also dissolve 1, melt 1.

    Antonyms freeze*, congeal*, refrigerate. *

  2. To unbend

    open up, loosen, become soft, relent, relax, mollify, grow genial; see also soften 1.

    Antonyms stiffen*, harden*, grow cool. See syn. study at melt.melt.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

thaw Usage Examples

Object

  • permafrost: So maybe warming thaws the permafrost, which in turn produces more greenhouse gases, and more warming.

Converse of object

  • bring: From Belgium, we travel to Stockholm, Sweden, where the high-powered ensemble Calle Real is bringing a thaw to their native city.

Adjective modifier

  • sudden: The Scottish army delayed by floods following a sudden thaw.

Modifying Another Word

  • thoroughly: Make sure meat and poultry are thoroughly thawed before cooking.

Noun used with modifier

  • freeze: A period of freeze thaw should see it coming into good nick.

Preposition: before

  • cooking: Top Cooking Make sure frozen meat and poultry are fully thawed before cooking.

Preposition: in

  • relation: Without any apparent thaw in relations, it's likely that the mission will last for years to come.
thaw usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"thaw." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/thaw>

APA Style

thaw. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/thaw

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