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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
  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

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 © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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