Definition of thaw
intransitive verb
1a : to go from a frozen to a liquid state : meltb : to become free of the effect (such as stiffness, numbness, or hardness) of cold as a result of exposure to warmth
2 : to be warm enough to melt ice and snow —used with it in reference to the weather
3 : to abandon aloofness, reserve, or hostility : unbend
4 : to become mobile, active, or susceptible to change
transitive verb
: to cause to thaw
From the M-W Editors
Examples of thaw in a Sentence
Plant the seeds in early spring as soon as the ground thaws.
The sun will soon thaw the snow and ice.
The weather is beginning to thaw.
Our cold fingers and toes eventually thawed.
She held the coffee cup tightly, trying to thaw her frozen fingers.
Recent Examples of thaw from the Web
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Busch said that one of the factors that affected the roads was temperature fluctuation between freezing and thawing.
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A story about a shortage of blood donations across the Chicago area erroneously said that Rush University Medical Center does not have the ability to thaw frozen blood needed for patients.
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So far, Hagedorn has successfully frozen coral sperm that, when thawed, is viable and can create new coral using fresh eggs.
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When the ice thawed, the fighter sank to the bottom of the lake.
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Its plain, boxy buildings sit on stilts to prevent thawing the permafrost below.
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The frozen ground beneath it has probably thawed over the 40 years since the road's construction, which is consistent with most permafrost areas in Alaska that are reacting to warmer air temperatures.
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Just make sure to allow your frozen cherries to thaw overnight in the fridge for the buttercream.
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The idea was to thaw the eggs when Kate was in New York and create the embryos on the spot and then transfer them to her.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thaw.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of thaw
Middle English, from Old English thawian; akin to Old High German douwen to thaw, Greek tēkein to melt, Latin tabēre to waste away
thaw
Definition of thaw
1 : the action, fact, or process of thawing
2 : a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice the January thaw
3 : the action or process of becoming less aloof, less hostile, or more genial a thaw in international relations
Examples of thaw in a Sentence
flooding from the spring thaw
a thaw in international relations
Recent Examples of thaw from the Web
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FIRST came the Iran nuclear deal; then the Cuban thaw.
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The record snowpack is just beginning to thaw and that means there is water everywhere.
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In the two and a half years since the Obama administration announced the thaw… the United States has made most of the concessions, while Cuban president Raúl Castro has given very little, especially in the realm of human rights, in return.
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Others also believe that the Texas law’s approval might signal a coming thaw in federal regulation of stem cell clinics.
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In her piece, Haley took aim at Cuba, a longtime U.S. nemesis despite a thaw under President Barack Obama, and Venezuela, where protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro have left at least 60 people dead.
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The two sides have nonetheless forged extensive trade ties and enjoyed a political thaw over the past decade. ‘
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Let the fruit thaw in the blender for 30 to 45 minutes, until 75 percent thawed.
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So by becoming as big as possible, the baleen whales managed to monopolize the newfound bounties of freeze-thaw planet.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'thaw.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of thaw
15th century
THAW Defined for English Language Learners
thaw
playDefinition of thaw for English Language Learners
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: to stop being frozen or to cause (something) to stop being frozen
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of weather : to become warm enough that snow and ice melt
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: to return to a normal temperature after being very cold
thaw
Definition of thaw for English Language Learners
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: a period of weather that is warm enough to melt ice and snow
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: a situation in which a relationship becomes more friendly and less angry
THAW Defined for Kids
Definition of thaw for Students
thawed
;thawing
1 : to melt or cause to melt
2 : to grow less unfriendly or quiet in manner
Definition of thaw for Students
1 : a period of weather warm enough to melt ice and snow
2 : the action, fact, or process of becoming less hostile or unfriendly
Learn More about thaw
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See words that rhyme with thaw Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for thaw Spanish Central: Translation of thaw Nglish: Translation of thaw for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of thaw for Arabic speakers
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