frost heave

noun

: an upthrust of ground or pavement caused by freezing of moist soil

called also frost heaving

Examples of frost heave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That's comfortable for me most of the time, but sometimes the cars are flying by or frost heaves are coming fast and furious, so the smart move is keeping my eyes down the road. —Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2024

With warmer and wetter conditions, frost heave will be less potent, and chemical weathering will be more so. —Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023

Do: Check perennials for frost heave. —Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 21 Mar. 2021

While the material is more flexible, extreme heat can cause a bump similar to a frost heave, Meyer said. —Tim Harlow, Star Tribune, 10 June 2021

One big project — addressing what appear as fierce frost heaves on Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, one of the main roads through town — is still short on answers. —Lisa Demer, Anchorage Daily News, 7 July 2017

In the Northeast, earth resettles after freezing and thawing, a phenomenon known as frost heave. —Nathaniel Penn, Popular Mechanics, 3 June 2019

There are crews on both sides of the border continuously filling in potholes and regrading stretches of road damaged by frost heaves. —Scott McMurren, Anchorage Daily News, 19 May 2018

As Kooser reports, frost heave is capable of moving even roads and buildings. —Julissa Treviño, Smithsonian, 9 Mar. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frost heave

• achieve
• believe
• conceive
• deceive
• naive
• perceive
• receive
• relieve
• reprieve
• retrieve
• breve
• cleave