Dictionary

freeze en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈfɹiːz/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *prews-der. Proto-Germanic *-āną Proto-Germanic *freusaną Proto-West Germanic *freusan Old English frēosan Middle English fresen English freeze From Middle English fresen, from Old English frēosan (“to freeze”), from Proto-West Germanic *freusan, from Proto-Germanic *freusaną (“to freeze”), from Proto-Indo-European *prews- (“to freeze; frost”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian friis, friise, früüs (“to freeze”), Saterland Frisian fjoose, frjoze (“to freeze”), West Frisian frieze (“to freeze”), Central Franconian freese (“to freeze”), Cimbrian briizan, vriizan (“to be cold”), Dutch vriezen (“to freeze”), Low German freren, fresen (“to freeze”), Luxembourgish fréieren (“to freeze”), German frieren (“to freeze”), Yiddish פֿרירן (frirn, “freeze”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål fryse (“to freeze”), Icelandic frjósa (“to freeze”), Norwegian Nynorsk frysa, fryse (“to freeze”), Swedish frysa (“to freeze”); also Cornish rew (“frost, ice”), Irish reo (“frost”), reoigh (“to freeze”), Manx rio (“frost, ice”), Scottish Gaelic reòdh, reòth (“freeze”), Welsh rhew (“frost, ice”), Latin pruīna (“hoarfrost, rime”), Albanian prush (“embers”), Lithuanian prausti (“to give showers of rain”), Czech prskat (“to splutter, sputter”), Macedonian прска (prska, “to spray, sprinkle”), Polish pryskać, prysnąć (“to spray, sprinkle”), Russian пры́скать (prýskatʹ), пры́снуть (prýsnutʹ, “to spray, sprinkle”), Serbo-Croatian прскати, prskati (“to spray, sprinkle”), Sanskrit प्रुष्णोति (pruṣṇoti, “to moisten, shower, sprinkle, wet”), प्रुष्वा (pruṣvā, “hoarfrost, ice, rime”), Saraiki پسݨ (pussaṇ, “to become wet”).

Meanings

1. (copulative, intransitive) Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature.
   • 1855, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha, Book XX: The Famine, Ever thicker, thicker, thicker / Froze the ice on lake and river,
   • The lake froze solid.
   • 1915, Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson, The How and Why Library: Wonders, Section II: Water, Running water does not freeze as easily as still water.
   • He got to Dawson before the river froze, and now I suppose I won't hear any more until spring. 1913 June, Willa Sibert Cather, “Winter Memories”, in O Pioneers!, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], →OCLC:
2. (transitive) To lower something's temperature to the point that it freezes or becomes hard.
   • Don't freeze meat twice.
   • 1888, Elias Lönnrot, John Martin Crawford (translator, from German), The Kalevala, Rune XXX: The Frost-fiend, Freeze the wizard in his vessel, / Freeze to ice the wicked Ahti, ...
3. (intransitive) To drop to a temperature below zero degrees celsius, where water turns to ice.
   • It didn't freeze this winter, but last winter was very harsh.
4. (informal, intransitive) To be affected by extreme cold.
   • Don't go outside wearing just a t-shirt; you'll freeze!
   • Far unfit to bear the bitter cold, / I can scarcely move or draw my breath? / Let me, let me freeze again to death. 1691, “What Power Art Thou? (The Cold Song)”, in John Dryden (lyrics), Henry Purcell (music), King Arthur:
   • It's freezing in here!
5. (idiomatic, intransitive) Of a machine or system, to come to a sudden halt, to stop working (functioning).
   • Since the last update, the program freezes after a few minutes of use.
6. (idiomatic, intransitive) Of a person or other animal, to stop (become motionless) or be stopped due to attentiveness, fear, surprise, etc.
   • Despite all of the rehearsals, I froze as soon as I got on stage.
   • As Tarzan rose upon the body of his kill to scream forth his hideous victory cry into the face of the moon the wind carried to his nostrils something which froze him to statuesque immobility and silence. 1916, Edgar Rice Burroughs, chapter III, in Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar:
   • They froze on their knees, their faces turned upward with a ghastly blue hue in the sudden glare of a weird light that burst blindingly up near the lofty roof and then burned with a throbbing glow. 1935, Robert E. Howard, chapter IV, in Jewels of Gwahlur:
7. (transitive) To cause someone to become motionless.
   • Dr Constantine sniggered and Mrs Hubbard immediately froze him with a glance. 1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 102:
8. (figuratively) To lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling; to shut out; to ostracize.
   • Over time, he froze towards her, and ceased to react to her friendly advances.
   • His friends begin to freeze towards him, the pillars of society cut him publicly, his clients cool off, big business deals no longer come his way, he is increasingly conscious of social ostracism and the puzzled misgivings of his wife. 1968, Ronald Victor Sampson, The Psychology of Power, page 134:
   • If you cheat them, they don't say anything but after that they freeze towards you. 1988, Edward Holland Spicer, Kathleen M. Sands, Rosamond B. Spicer, People of Pascua, page 37:
   • The other side to this sunny gladness of natural love is his pity for their sufferings when their own mother's heart seems to freeze towards them. 1898, Robert Burns, edited by John George Dow, Selections from the poems of Robert Burns, page lviii:
9. To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.
   • A faint, cold fear runs through my veins, / That almost freezes up the heat of life. c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
10. (transitive) To prevent the movement or liquidation of a person's financial assets
    • The court froze the criminal's bank account.
11. Of prices, spending etc., to keep at the same level, without any increase.
    • The headline promise in the Liberal Democrat manifesto is to freeze rail fares for commuters and season ticket holders for the duration of a Parliament. 2019 December 4, “Lib Dems promise fares freeze and low-emission technology”, in Rail, page 6:
12. (ambitransitive) To prevent from showing any visible change.
    • Playback will freeze if you pause the video.
    • Pressing the pause button will freeze the video playback.
13. (transitive) To trap (the puck) so that it cannot be played.

Forms

Antonyms

unfreeze · liquify · defrost

Deriveds

freeze distillation · freeze-dried · freezoree · freeze-ahead · pay freeze · freezie · freeze-out · cryofreeze · freeze to · antifreeze · flash-freeze · deep-freeze · adfreeze · freeze peach · freeze on to · freeze-thaw · freezy · freezeproof · nonfreeze · prefreeze · refreeze · freezing point · freeze chest · freeze pop · quick-freeze · freeze up · cryo-freeze · freeze out · freeze brand · freezer · cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey · deep freeze · freeze-frame · freeze-drying · hard freeze · defreeze · until the cows freeze over · freezable · freeze-dry · freeze baby · snap freeze · freeze onto · brain freeze · Seattle Freeze · postfreeze · freeze solid · freeze over · freeze frame · freezeout · freeze-up · befreeze · freezing · enfreeze · freeze valve

Descendants

ffriża

Relateds

frosty · frory · frost · frorn · frore

Synonyms

seize up · grind to a halt · freeze up · solidify · seize · freeze up · immobilize · halt · hang · lock up

Translations (348)

ca congelar (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ota طوكمق (of temperature, to drop below zero) · vi đóng băng (to become solid due to low temperature) · ga oighrigh (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi jähmettyä (to become solid due to low temperature) · de abkühlen (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · gd reoth (to become solid due to low temperature) · ne जम्नु (to become solid due to low temperature) · dlg тоӈ (to become solid due to low temperature) · ca glaçar (to become solid due to low temperature) · krc бузларгъа (to become solid due to low temperature) · uk заморо́зити (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · kk тоңазу (to become solid due to low temperature) · mi whakatio (to become solid due to low temperature) · izh jäättyä (to become solid due to low temperature) · sv frysa (to become solid due to low temperature) · pt congelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · nl bevriezen (to become solid due to low temperature) · de erstarren (to become motionless) · id membeku (to become solid due to low temperature) · ckb بەستِن (to become solid due to low temperature) · cs zmrznout (to become solid due to low temperature) · rup ngljets (to become solid due to low temperature) · cmn 凍結 /冻结 (to become solid due to low temperature) · ms beku (to become solid due to low temperature) · vi đóng đá (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi jähmettää (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ja 凍らせる (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fi palelluttaa (to cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat) · it gelare (to become solid due to low temperature) · ru вста́ть (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · mr जमणे (to become solid due to low temperature) · id membekukan (to become motionless) · de einfrieren (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · tr donmak (of temperature, to drop below zero) · qu qasay (to be affected by cold) · ro îngheța (to become solid due to low temperature) · az dondurmaq (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · da fryse (of temperature, to drop below zero) · tr dondurmak (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ru заморо́зить (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · es helar (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · pl zamarzać (to become solid due to low temperature) · ca gelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · ga cuisnigh (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · el κοκαλώνω (to become motionless) · fi kylmetä (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · dsb marznuś (to be affected by cold) · ka გაშეშდება (to become motionless) · da fryse (to become solid due to low temperature) · ast xelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · ga sioc (to become solid due to low temperature) · csb miarznąc (to be affected by cold) · cs mrznout (to be affected by cold) · sv frysa (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · es escarchar (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fi viilentää (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · mn хөлдөх (to become solid due to low temperature) · da stivne (to become motionless) · ru встава́ть (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · pt congelar (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · bg замръзвам (to become solid due to low temperature) · sq ngrircë (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fi olla pakkasta (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fi pysäyttää (to cause to become motionless) · nl verstijven (to become motionless) · fi pysähtyä (to become motionless) · ba туңдырыу (of temperature, to drop below zero) · id membeku (to become motionless) · mr गारठणे (to become solid due to low temperature) · ne जमाउनु (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · de streiken (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · tyv доңар (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi viiletä (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · fr geler (to become solid due to low temperature) · bo ཁྱགས་པ་བཟོས (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · pl zamrażać (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · su kimpel (to become solid due to low temperature) · nl invriezen (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · cy fferru (to become motionless) · es congelar (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · no fryse (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ia congelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · is frjósa (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi jäädyttää (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · sv frysa (to become motionless) · fi mennä jumiin (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · de gefrieren (to become solid due to low temperature) · cs ztuhnout or znehybnět (to become motionless) · id membekukan (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · bg мръзна (to be affected by cold) · th แข็ง (to become solid due to low temperature) · la glaciō (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi jäätyä (to become solid due to low temperature) · ru закли́нивать (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · ga oighrigh (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · hu fagyaszt (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fr geler (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · ang frēosan (to become solid due to low temperature) · ka იყინება (to become solid due to low temperature) · pt gelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · az donmaq (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · is frysta (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · de halten (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · ga reoigh (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fi kohmettua (to become solid due to low temperature) · io frostar (to become solid due to low temperature) · la gelō (to become solid due to low temperature) · tt туңу (to become solid due to low temperature) · eo frostigi (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · br chom a-sav krenn (to become motionless) · sq ngrij (to become solid due to low temperature) · ko 얼리다 (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · hu megfagyaszt (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · pt deixar sem reação (to cause to become motionless) · ko 얼어붙다 (to become motionless) · bo ཁྱགས་པ་ཆགས (to become solid due to low temperature) · fr se figer (to become motionless) · es arrecirse (to be affected by cold) · nds-de fresen (of temperature, to drop below zero) · de frieren (to be affected by cold) · pt ficar congelando (to be affected by cold) · mi whakakōpaka (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · vi đông đá (to become solid due to low temperature) · nl vastlopen (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · uz toʻngmoq (to become solid due to low temperature) · la glacio (of temperature, to drop below zero) · de stoppen (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · sq Ngri (to become motionless) · sah тоҥ (to become solid due to low temperature) · es frisarse (to become solid due to low temperature) · da fryse (to be affected by cold) · fi jäätyä (to be affected by cold) · nl bevriezen (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ru замёрзнуть (to become solid due to low temperature) · is frysta (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · cmn 結冰 /结冰 (to become solid due to low temperature) · de einfrieren (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · hu dermed (to become motionless) · cy rhewi (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · nl vriezen (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ba өшөү (to be affected by cold) · it congelare (to become motionless) · la conglacio (to become motionless) · it congelare (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · de frieren (of temperature, to drop below zero) · bg застивам (to become motionless) · az donmaq (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fr se refroidir (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · ota طوكمق (to become motionless) · dsb marznuś (of temperature, to drop below zero) · ru замора́живать (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · ka გაყინვა (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ro congela (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ba туңдырыу (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · uum бузла- (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ja 凍らせる (to become motionless) · el παγώνω (of temperature, to drop below zero) · ro îngheța (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fi hyytää (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · eo frosti (to become solid due to low temperature) · gl conxelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · sh smrzavati (to become solid due to low temperature) · bg замразявам (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · de hängen (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · pl zamrozić (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · br sonnañ (to become solid due to low temperature) · sv hänga (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · ext gelal (to become solid due to low temperature) · no fryse (to become motionless) · alt тоҥоор (to become solid due to low temperature) · oc congelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · uk заморожуватися (of temperature, to drop below zero) · ota طوكمق (to become solid due to low temperature) · eo frostigi (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · fr geler (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fr congeler (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · hu megfagy (to be affected by cold) · oc gelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · ru застыва́ть (to become motionless) · fa فسردن (to become solid due to low temperature) · de (Transaktionen) blockieren (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · fr figer (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · pl marznąć (to be affected by cold) · vi phong tỏa (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · fr figer (to cause to become motionless) · tr donmak (to become solid due to low temperature) · mn ᠬᠥᠯᠳᠡᠭᠡᠬᠦ (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ru моро́зить (of temperature, to drop below zero) · oc glaçar (to become solid due to low temperature) · it ghiacciare (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi jäädyttää (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · az donmaq (to become solid due to low temperature) · he קָפָא (to become solid due to low temperature) · zea bevrieze (to become solid due to low temperature) · ja 凍る (to become motionless) · ru замере́ть (to become motionless) · ko 얼다 (to become solid due to low temperature) · hu kővé mered (to become motionless) · de einfrieren (to become motionless) · uk заморожувати (of temperature, to drop below zero) · sh smrznuti (to become solid due to low temperature) · kk тоңу (to become solid due to low temperature) · hu megfagy (to become solid due to low temperature) · aln narth (to be affected by cold) · uk заморо́жувати (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · cy fferru (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · kim доӈар (to become solid due to low temperature) · lb fréieren (to become solid due to low temperature) · ru закли́нить (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · kjh тоорға (to become solid due to low temperature) · de (plötzlich) anhalten (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · fur inglaçâ (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · uk заморо́жувати (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · hu megdermed (to become motionless) · nrf g'ler (to become solid due to low temperature) · pl zastygnąć w bezruchu (to become motionless) · fi kohmettaa (to cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat) · qu chiriy (to become solid due to low temperature) · id beku (to become solid due to low temperature) · pt congelar (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · la gelo (of temperature, to drop below zero) · hu fagy (of temperature, to drop below zero) · hu lefagy (to become motionless) · ba туңыу (to become solid due to low temperature) · cmn 冰凍 /冰冻 (to become solid due to low temperature) · fur glaçâ (to become solid due to low temperature) · no fryse (to become solid due to low temperature) · he הִקְפִּיא (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ba туңыу (to be affected by cold) · fi jäätää (to be affected by cold) · ga téacht (to become solid due to low temperature) · ga sioc (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fi sulkea (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · ga reoigh (to become solid due to low temperature) · ru замира́ть (to become motionless) · de abwürgen (to cause to become motionless) · uk замерза́ти (to become solid due to low temperature) · ky тоңуу (to become solid due to low temperature) · lb fréieren (of temperature, to drop below zero) · es helar (of temperature, to drop below zero) · de (Maschine) einfrieren (to cause to become motionless) · pt travar (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · ota طوكمق (to be affected by cold) · ru засты́ть (to become motionless) · pl zamarznąć (to be affected by cold) · th แช่แข็ง (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · cs zmrazit (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fi pakastaa (of temperature, to drop below zero) · cy rhewi (of temperature, to drop below zero) · hu fagy (to become solid due to low temperature) · ru мёрзнуть (to be affected by cold) · gl xear (of temperature, to drop below zero) · tr donmak (to be affected by cold) · it gelare (of temperature, to drop below zero) · da fryse (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ka გაყინვა (to become solid due to low temperature) · ru ви́снуть (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · fi hyytää (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · lut q̓axʷ (to become solid due to low temperature) · nrf g'ler (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fur glačâ (to become solid due to low temperature) · de erfrieren (to cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat) · ug توڭماق (to become solid due to low temperature) · is frysta (of temperature, to drop below zero) · ga téacht (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · bg замразявам (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · pt estagnar (to become motionless) · mi whakamōtu (to become motionless) · fr geler (to be affected by cold) · ru заморо́зить (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · nog тонъув (to become solid due to low temperature) · pl zamarznąć (to become solid due to low temperature) · udm кынмыны (to become solid due to low temperature) · izh jäätyttää (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · pl mrozić (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · de abdrehen (vt.) (to cause to become motionless) · ru замерза́ть (to become solid due to low temperature) · gl conxelar (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · pt congelar (of temperature, to drop below zero) · sq mbërdhi (to be affected by cold) · ckb ڕِچان (to become solid due to low temperature) · fr glacer (to become solid due to low temperature) · rm schelentar (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · de ersterben (to cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat) · hu lefagy (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · ka ყინვა (to be affected by cold) · ca congelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · ar تَجَمَّدَ (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi pysähtyä (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · la congelo (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fi hyytyä (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · fi pakastaa (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · uk заме́рзнути (to become solid due to low temperature) · br skornañ (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · la conglacio (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · nl stilvallen (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · cjs тоң- (to become solid due to low temperature) · es helarse (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi jähmettyä (to become motionless) · kmr bestin (to become solid due to low temperature) · id membeku (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · mi whakamaho (to become motionless) · rup ãngljets (to become solid due to low temperature) · ka შეშდება (to become motionless) · kdr buzla- (to become solid due to low temperature) · cy rhewi (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi kylmentää (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · fi kohmettaa (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · fur agelâ (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ja 凍る (to become solid due to low temperature) · mn ᠬᠥᠯᠳᠡᠬᠦ (to become solid due to low temperature) · uk заморо́зити (to prevent movement of someone's financial assets) · yue 結冰 /结冰 (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi leikata kiinni (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · gl xear (to become solid due to low temperature) · id membekukan (to become solid due to low temperature) · es frisar (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · la congelo (to become motionless) · yi אײַנפֿרירן (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · otk 𐱃𐰆𐰭 (to become solid due to low temperature) · pt congelar (to become motionless) · mi whakatio (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · sv frysa (of temperature, to drop below zero) · hi जमना (to become solid due to low temperature) · rm schelar (to become solid due to low temperature) · de frösteln (to lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling) · ru замора́живать (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · cmn 凍 /冻 (to become solid due to low temperature) · qu chiriy (to be affected by cold) · ga cuisnigh (to become solid due to low temperature) · es congelarse (to become solid due to low temperature) · frr friis (to become solid due to low temperature) · fi pakastua (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fr refroidir (to cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat) · nl vriezen (of temperature, to drop below zero) · tr donmak (to become motionless) · hu lefagyaszt (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · qu qasay (to become solid due to low temperature) · pt estar congelando (to be affected by cold) · yi פֿרירן (to become solid due to low temperature) · gu ઠીજવું (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · ru зави́снуть (of machines and software: to come to a sudden halt) · eo frosti (of temperature, to drop below zero) · fi jähmettää (to cause to become motionless) · mn хөлдөөх (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · sq ngrij (to lower something's temperature to freezing point) · cim briizan (to be affected by cold)

freeze en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈfɹiːz/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *prews-der. Proto-Germanic *-āną Proto-Germanic *freusaną Proto-West Germanic *freusan Old English frēosan Middle English fresen English freezedeverb. English freeze Deverbal from freeze (verb), see which for further etymology.

Meanings

1. A period of intensely cold weather.
   • In order to work properly, the cotton stripper required that the plant be brown and brittle, as happened after a freeze, so that the cotton bolls could snap off easily. 2009, Pietra Rivoli, The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy, 2nd edition, page 38:
2. A halt of a regular operation.
   • Many of our opponents in Congress are advocating a freeze in Federal spending and an increase in taxes. 1985 April 27, Ronald Reagan, Presidential Radio Address:
   • Without a freeze it might be possible to proceed with the production and deployment of such destabilizing systems as the MX, Trident II, cruise missiles and SS-18s, -19s and -20s. 1982 October, William Epstein, “The freeze: a hot issue at the United Nations”, in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists:
   • 1983 October 3, Ted Kennedy, speech, Truth and Tolerance in America, Critics may oppose the nuclear freeze for what they regard as moral reasons.
3. The state when either a single computer program, or the whole system ceases to respond to inputs.
4. A precise draw weight shot where a delivered stone comes to a stand-still against a stationary stone, making it nearly impossible to knock out.
   • The reason I said the guard wasn't the toughest shot in curling is because, in my book, that's a shot called the freeze. A stone thrown as a freeze comes perfectly to rest directly in front of another stone, without moving it (see Figure 10-5). 2006, Bob Weeks, Curling for Dummies, page 143:
5. A block on pay rises or on the hiring of new employees etc.
   • a hiring freeze;  a pay freeze
   • "We need a different understanding of revenues and public expenditure. The 15-year freeze on fuel duty and lack of tax on aviation fuel are effectively a huge subsidy to those forms of travel, but they are not described as subsidy because they are foregone revenue. Yet if you invest to hold rail fares, it's seen as subsidy." 2025 May 28, Ben Plowden talks to Anthony Lambert, “The railway is an essential public service”, in RAIL, number 1036, page 33:

Forms

Deriveds

hard freeze · rent freeze · freeze dance · freeze tag

Synonyms

hang

Translations (50)

nl salarisstop (on salary) · ca glaçada (period of cold) · tr donma ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · ru зависа́ние ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · fi jäädytys ((finance)) · vi treo ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · ru фриз ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · ca gelada (period of cold) · es pacheco (period of cold) · gl colgarse ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · it blocco ((finance)) · pt bloquear ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · sv köldknäpp (period of cold) · fr plantage ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · fi sulku (halt of regular operation) · bg мраз (period of cold) · io frosto (period of cold) · nl vorstperiode (period of cold) · nl vastlopen ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · fi jumi ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · ru за́морозки (period of cold) · fr gel ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · fr grands froids (period of cold) · ru моро́зы (period of cold) · de Einfrieren ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · pl mróz (period of cold) · fr gel (halt of regular operation) · nl vorst (period of cold) · fi palkkasulku (on salary) · fi jäädytys (halt of regular operation) · es helada (period of cold) · bg замразявам (on salary) · de Stillstand (halt of regular operation) · nl loonstop (on salary) · fi sulku ((finance)) · es cuelgue ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · fi kielto ((finance)) · de Frostwetter (period of cold) · fi halla (period of cold) · cs mráz (period of cold) · de Stop (halt of regular operation) · nl bevriezing ((finance)) · sv stopp (halt of regular operation) · fr gel (on salary) · es frío pelú (period of cold) · de Frost (period of cold) · fi tiltti ((computing) state when the system ceases to respond to inputs) · fi pakkanen (period of cold) · az şaxta (period of cold) · fr gel ((finance))

freeze en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈfɹiːz/

Meanings

1. (alt-of, obsolete) Obsolete form of frieze.
   alt of frieze
   • [I]f a plaine fellow well and cleanely apparelled, either in home-ſpun ruſſet or freeze (as the ſeaſon requires) with a five pouch at his girdle, happen to appeare in his ruſticall likenes: there is a Cozen ſaies one, At which word out flies the Taker, and thus giues the onſet vpon my olde Pennyfather. 1608, [Thomas Dekker], “Of Barnards Law”, in The Belman of London. […], London: […] [Edward Allde and Nicholas Okes] for Nathaniel Butter, →OCLC, signature F, verso:

Forms