frost

1 of 2

noun

ˈfrȯst 

1

a

: the process of freezing

b

: a covering of minute ice crystals on a cold surface

also : ice particles formed from a gas

c

: the temperature that causes freezing

2

a

: coldness of deportment or temperament : an indifferent, reserved, or unfriendly manner

b

: failure

the play was … a most dreadful frost

—Arnold Bennett

frost

2 of 2

verb

frosted; frosting; frosts

transitive verb

1

a

: to cover with or as if with frost

especially : to put icing on (cake)

b

: to produce a fine-grained slightly roughened surface on (such as metal or glass)

2

: to injure or kill (plants) by frost

3

: to make angry or irritated

that really frosts me

intransitive verb

: to become frosted

Synonyms

Noun

• hoar
• hoarfrost
• rime

Verb

• aggravate
• annoy
• bother
• bug
• burn (up)
• chafe
• eat
• exasperate
• gall
• get
• grate
• gripe
• hack (off)
• irk
• irritate
• itch
• nark [British]
• nettle
• peeve
• persecute
• pique
• put out
• rasp
• rile
• ruffle
• spite
• vex

Examples of frost in a Sentence

Noun

The grass was covered with frost.

Frost formed on the window.

These plants should bloom until the first frost of the season.

We had an early frost.

Verb

The cold had frosted the windows.

I have to frost the birthday cake.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Since then, the orbiter has set out to study Martian clouds, fog and frost while mapping the surface to pave the way for future crewed landings. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 18 June 2025

This can also happen due to a heatwave or frost (or because your plant only flowers during a specific season). —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 June 2025

Verb

Freezing fog trundling in from Ocean Beach deposited ice crystals on every branch and spire, frosting the deco towers, the green pagodas and granite lions of Chinatown. —Literary Hub, 11 June 2025

Also, do a very thin layer of frosting over the whole cake, called a crumb coat, and then refrigerate until set before continuing. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German frost — more at freeze

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1635, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing frost

• frost heave

Rhymes for frost

• bossed
• cost
• crossed
• dost
• glossed
• lost
• prost
• rost
• tossed
• accost
• crisscrossed
• defrost

Kids Definition

frost

1 of 2 noun

ˈfrȯst 

1

: the temperature that causes freezing

2

: a covering of tiny ice crystals on a cold surface

frost

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to cover with or as if with frost

especially : to put icing on (as cake)

b

: to give a surface that looks like frost to

2

: to injure or kill by frost : freeze

Biographical Definition

Frost

biographical name

ˈfrȯst 

Robert Lee 1874–1963 American poet

Frostian

ˈfrȯ-stē-ən 

ˈfrȯs-chən

adjective