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
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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.
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
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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