frostbite

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verb

frost·bite ˈfrȯs(t)-ˌbīt

frostbit ˈfrȯs(t)-ˌbit

; frostbitten ˈfrȯs(t)-ˌbi-tᵊn

; frostbiting ˈfrȯs(t)-ˌbī-tiŋ

transitive verb

: to affect or injure by frost or frostbite

frostbite

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noun

: the superficial or deep freezing of the tissues of some part of the body (such as the feet or hands)

also : the damage to tissues caused by freezing compare frostnip

frostbite

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adjective

: done in cold weather

frostbite sailing

also : of or relating to cold-weather sailing

frostbite sailors

Example Sentences

Noun He wore gloves to prevent frostbite.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Lance had lost his mitts and was huddled close to a barrel stove, his fingers black with frostbite from cruel cold. —

Marc Lester, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Mar. 2023 Symptoms of frostbite include a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. —

Brittany Bowker, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Feb. 2023 White is now recovering in the ICU with fourth-degree frostbite after arriving the hospital Sunday night, his sister Yvonne White told CNN. —

Celina Tebor, CNN, 27 Dec. 2022 The parched and wintry Pale (in theaters this Friday and on Netflix Jan. 6) duly delivers all that, with frostbite. —

Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2022 Although medical care is the best route to take in cases of frostbite, sometimes immediate attentions isn’t available. —

Staff Author, Health, 25 Jan. 2023 The addition of nylon to the mostly leather construction adds a measure of breathability, allowing sweat to evaporate to reduce the chance of frostbite. —

Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 5 Jan. 2023 O’Connell and a colleague later made a small study of death records, which suggested that patients with a history of frostbite — or of trench foot — had a death rate seven times as high as other homeless people of the same age group. —

Tracy Kidder, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023 Toss some in your gloves or boots in a pinch and avoid the dangers of frostbite. —

Collin Morgan, Car and Driver, 4 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frostbite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.