thaws; thawed; thawing
1
: to stop being frozen or to cause (something) to stop being frozen
The ice on the pond is beginning to thaw. [=melt]
Plant the seeds in early spring as soon as the ground thaws.
—often + outThe meat will have to thaw out before you can use it.
The sun will soon thaw the snow and ice.
—often + outYou'll have to thaw the meat out before you can use it.
2
of weather
: to become warm enough that snow and ice melt
The weather is beginning to thaw.
3
: to return to a normal temperature after being very cold
Our cold fingers and toes eventually thawed.
—often + outWe sat in front of the fire and let our feet thaw out.
She held the coffee cup tightly, trying to thaw her frozen fingers.
4
: to become more friendly and less angry
Relations between the countries have thawed since the trade embargo was lifted.
Efforts to thaw relations between the two countries have failed.
plural thaws
1
: a period of weather that is warm enough to melt ice and snow
flooding from the spring thaw
2
: a situation in which a relationship becomes more friendly and less angry
a thaw in international relations
Cite this Entry
“Thaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/thaw. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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