thaw

verb \ ˈthȯ \

Definition of thaw

intransitive verb

1 a :to go from a frozen to a liquid state :melt

b :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

See thaw defined for English-language learners

See thaw defined for kids

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

As for the last Stark, brother Bran is presumably still thawing out in the, um, comfort of the Wall. 5.

— steve johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Time for Plan B? 5 thoughts on 'Game of Thrones' Episode 2," 23 July 2017
Busch said that one of the factors that affected the roads was temperature fluctuation between freezing and thawing.

— thomas jewell, cleveland.com, "Solon adds nearly $600,000 in road work to $1 million paving contract," 19 July 2017
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.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Corrections and clarifications," 13 July 2017
So far, Hagedorn has successfully frozen coral sperm that, when thawed, is viable and can create new coral using fresh eggs.

— eva botkin-kowacki, The Christian Science Monitor, "From coral sperm banks to climate action: What's best to save reefs?," 13 July 2017
When the ice thawed, the fighter sank to the bottom of the lake.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "World War II Fighter Recovered From the Bottom of a Lake," 13 July 2017
To make: Blend together 1 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut milk beverage, 3/4 cup partially thawed frozen dark sweet cherries (no sugar added), 1/8 tsp.

— lisa lillien, Redbook, "4 Better, Slimmer Smoothies You Can Make At Home," 13 July 2017
Its plain, boxy buildings sit on stilts to prevent thawing the permafrost below.

— craig s. smith, Alaska Dispatch News, "A lost art in the Arctic: igloo making," 29 June 2017
Step 3: Once the banana has thawed, cut off both tips.

— spoon u, Teen Vogue, "How to Peel a Frozen Banana," 25 June 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

thaw Synonyms

Synonyms

deliquesce, flux, fuse, melt, run, liquefy

Antonyms

harden, set, solidify

Related Words

found, gutter, smelt, try; dissolve, render; soften, thin

Near Antonyms

clot, coagulate, congeal, gel, jell, jelly, thicken

thaw

noun

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

See thaw defined for English-language learners

Examples of thaw in a Sentence

flooding from the spring thaw
a thaw in international relations

Recent Examples of thaw from the Web

Here's the biology behind brain freeze — and how to give your head a quick thaw.

— dr. mehmet oz, Good Housekeeping, "Why People Really Get Brain Freeze," 25 July 2017
FIRST came the Iran nuclear deal; then the Cuban thaw.

— The Economist, "Donald Trump ducks a decision on sanctions on Khartoum," 13 July 2017
The record snowpack is just beginning to thaw and that means there is water everywhere.

— ernie cowan outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Coast to Crest Challenge open to hikers, cyclists," 24 June 2017
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.

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "All eyes on Trump, always," 16 June 2017
The change was part of a thaw in relations with Cuba, which also agreed to start accepting the return of more of its people who get deported.

— gisela salomon, The Seattle Times, "Cubans now face same deportation risk as other immigrants," 15 June 2017
Others also believe that the Texas law’s approval might signal a coming thaw in federal regulation of stem cell clinics.

— kelly servick, Science | AAAS, "Texas has sanctioned unapproved stem cell therapies. Will it change anything?," 15 June 2017
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.

— Washington Post, "US ambassador has message for ‘corrupt’ UN rights body," 5 June 2017
The two sides have nonetheless forged extensive trade ties and enjoyed a political thaw over the past decade. ‘

— ting shi, Bloomberg.com, "Taiwan Gay Marriage Ruling Widens Political Divide With China," 25 May 2017

First Known Use of thaw

15th century

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr

THAW Defined for English Language Learners

thaw

verb

Definition of thaw for English Language Learners

: to stop being frozen or to cause (something) to stop being frozen
of weather : to become warm enough that snow and ice melt
: to return to a normal temperature after being very cold

thaw

noun

Definition of thaw for English Language Learners

: a period of weather that is warm enough to melt ice and snow
: a situation in which a relationship becomes more friendly and less angry

THAW Defined for Kids

thaw

verb \ ˈthȯ \

Definition of thaw for Students

thawed; thawing

1 :to melt or cause to melt

2 :to grow less unfriendly or quiet in manner

thaw

noun

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

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thaw

Definition of thaw

Examples of thaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples of thaw from the Web

First Known Use of thaw

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

THAW Defined for English Language Learners

thaw

Definition of thaw for English Language Learners

thaw

Definition of thaw for English Language Learners

THAW Defined for Kids

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Definition of thaw for Students

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