frostbite

1 of 3

verb

frost·​bite ˈfrȯs(t)-ˌbīt How to pronounce frostbite (audio)

transitive verb

: to affect or injure by frost or frostbite

frostbite

2 of 3

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

3 of 3

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.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1574, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1798, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frostbite was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near frostbite

Cite this Entry

“Frostbite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frostbite. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

frostbite

1 of 2 verb
frost·​bite ˈfrȯs(t)-ˌbīt How to pronounce frostbite (audio)
frostbit -ˌbit How to pronounce frostbite (audio) ; frostbitten -ˌbit-ᵊn How to pronounce frostbite (audio) ; frostbiting -ˌbīt-iŋ How to pronounce frostbite (audio)
: to injure by frost or frostbite

frostbite

2 of 2 noun
: the freezing of a surface or deeper layer of tissues of some part of the body (as the feet or hands)

Medical Definition

frostbite

1 of 2 transitive verb
frost·​bite ˈfrȯs(t)-ˌbīt How to pronounce frostbite (audio)
frostbit -ˌbit How to pronounce frostbite (audio) ; frostbitten -ˌbit-ᵊn How to pronounce frostbite (audio) ; frostbiting -ˌbīt-iŋ How to pronounce frostbite (audio)
: to affect or injure by frost or frostbite

frostbite

2 of 2 noun
: the superficial or deep freezing of the tissues of some part of the body (as the feet or hands)
also : the damage to tissues caused by freezing

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