| 释义 |
unˈfreeze, v.
[un-2 3 and 7.]
1. trans. To cause to thaw.
1584Hudson Du Bartas' Judith iv. 196 Loues firy dart Could neuer vnfriese the frost of her chast hart. 1598Florio, Disghiacciare, to vnfreese, to thaw. 1651Ogilby æsop (1665) 11 Such Trumpeters would blood turn'd Ice unfreeze. 1879I. L. Bird Lady's Life Rocky Mount. I. 280 Eggs, butter, milk,..have to be unfrozen.
b. fig. spec. (in recent use) to make (assets, credits, etc.) realizable; to remove restrictions or rigid control from.
1637N. Whiting Albino & Bellama 36 Such quickning heat..That thawd his voyce, and did unfreeze his tongue. 1670Brooks London's Lament. 41 God by fiery tryals will unfreeze the frozen graces of his people. 1862Thornbury Turner II. 125 At an age when..he could not unfreeze himself into hospitality. 1933Kalends (Williams & Wilkins Co.) May, Among other horrors..of our present adventure into fiscal delirium tremens, we discover the rise and growth of the monstrous verb, unfreeze. 1940Sun (Baltimore) 3 Dec. 1/6 Great Britain and..Spain signed an agreement today designed to ‘unfreeze’ Spanish funds blocked in London. 1948Dylan Thomas Let. 17 Nov. (1966) 323, I have already borrowed in advance from my fee..in order to unfreeze my Bank account. 1948Time 22 Nov. 58/3 Thanks to improved domestic production of newsprint, circulation would be unfrozen Jan. 1. 1957Economist 28 Sept. 1006/1 If Britain were to unfreeze the Egyptian working sterling account..President Nasser would be willing to discuss diplomatic relations. 1974Guardian 23 Jan. 10/1 Building projects..were due to be unfrozen early this year. 1983Time 20 June 6/1 The [EEC] leaders agreed..to unfreeze the aid package for Israel, blocked..after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
2. intr. To become thawed. Also fig.
1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 64 The cold having..pierc'd to the Centre of the earth, it must have leasure to unfreeze. 1746W. Horsley Fool (1748) I. 234, I wish he would put off his Amour to the ensuing May, when the Virgin Heart unfreezes. 1918Scotsman 6 Apr. 7/2 Their enthusiasms were reached only by tact and wise consideration... The atmosphere unfroze; and even the hotel people became polite and gentle. 1958Times 11 Nov. 8/1 Members of his [sc. de Gaulle's] staff point out that he never expected educated Muslim opinion to ‘unfreeze’ all at once. 1968K. O'Hara Bird-Cage xiii. 99 A small Scotch to his hand, a steak quietly unfreezing in the kitchen. 1981P. Vansittart Death of Robin Hood iii. iii. 143 She slowly unfroze, motioning him to the damson ottoman. |