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 from overheating, of increased friction due to inadequate lubrication or corrosion, etc.
Origin of freeze
Middle English fresen from Old English freosan, akin to Old High German friosan (Ger frieren) from Indo-European base an unverified form preus-, to freeze, burn like cold from source Classical Latin pruina, hoarfrost, pruna, glowing coals- 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; quick-freeze
- 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)
- a freezing or being frozen
- a period of cold, freezing weather; a frost
freeze Idioms
freeze (on) to
Informal to cling to; hold fast to
freeze out
- to die out through freezing, as plants do
- Informal to keep out or force out by a cold manner, by competition, etc.
