Main Entry: ¹freeze

Pronunciation: \ˈfrēz\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): froze \ˈfrōz\; fro·zen \ˈfrō-z^ən\; freez·ing

Etymology: Middle English fresen, from Old English frēosan; akin to Old High German friosan to freeze, Latin pruina hoarfrost, Old English frost frost

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 a : to become congealed into ice by cold b : to solidify as a result of abstraction of heat c : to withstand freezing <the bread freezes well>
2 : to become chilled with cold <almost froze to death>
3 : to adhere solidly by or as if by freezing <pressure caused the metals to freeze>
4 : to become fixed or motionless; especially : to become incapable of acting or speaking
5 : to become clogged with ice <the water pipes froze>transitive verb 1 a : to harden into ice b : to convert from a liquid to a solid by cold
2 : to make extremely cold : chill
3 a : to act on usually destructively by frost b : to anesthetize by cold
4 : to cause to grip tightly or remain in immovable contact
5 a : to cause to become fixed, immovable, unavailable, or unalterable <freeze interest rates> b : to immobilize by governmental regulation the expenditure, withdrawal, or exchange of <freeze foreign assets> c : to render motionless <a fake froze the defender>
6 : to attempt to retain continuous possession of (a ball or puck) without an attempt to score usually in order to protect a small lead

— freez·ing·ly adverb