Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense freezes, present participle freezing, past tense froze, past participle frozen
1. verb
If a liquid or a substance containing a liquid freezes, or if something freezes it, it becomes solid because of low temperatures.
If the temperature drops below 0°C, water freezes. [VERB]
The ground froze solid. [VERB adjective]
...the discovery of how to freeze water at higher temperatures. [VERB noun]
...frozen puddles. [VERB-ed]
[Also V n adj]
Synonyms: ice over or up, harden, stiffen, solidify More Synonyms of freeze
2. verb
If you freeze something such as food, you preserve it by storing it at a temperature below freezingpoint. You can also talk about how well food freezes.
You can freeze the soup at this stage. [VERB noun]
Most fresh herbs will freeze successfully. [VERB adverb]
Synonyms: deep freeze, cool, ice, chill More Synonyms of freeze
3. verb
If something such as a pipe or machine freezes, it becomes blocked or stiff with ice or frozen liquid.
The water pipes will freeze. [VERB]
4. verb
When it freezes outside, the temperature falls below freezing point.
What if it rained and then froze all through those months? [VERB]
Freeze is also a noun.
The trees were damaged by a freeze in December.
5. verb
If you freeze, you feel extremely cold.
The windows didn't fit at the bottom so for a while we froze even in the middle ofsummer. [VERB]
Your hands will freeze doing this. [VERB]
6. verb
If someone who is moving freezes, they suddenly stop and become completely still and quiet.
[written]
She froze when the beam of the flashlight struck her. [VERB]
Synonyms: stop, stop dead, stop suddenly, stop in your tracks More Synonyms of freeze
7. verb
If the government or a company freeze things such as prices or wages, they state officially that they will not allow them to increase for a fixed period of time.
[business]
They want the government to freeze prices. [VERB noun]
Wages have been frozen and workers laid off. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: fix, hold, limit, hold up More Synonyms of freeze
Freeze is also a noun.
A wage freeze was imposed on all staff earlier this month.
...a freeze on the prices of consumer goods.
8. verb
If a government freezes a plan or process, they state officially that they will not allow it to continue for a period of time.
Britain has already frozen its aid programme. [VERB noun]
Diplomatic relations were frozen until August this year. [beVERB-ed]
Freeze is also a noun.
...a freeze in nuclear weapons programs.
9. verb
If someone in authority freezes something such as a bank account, fund, or property, they obtain a legal order which states that it cannot be used or soldfor a particular period of time.
[business]
The governor's action freezes 300,000 accounts. [VERB noun]
Under these laws, he said, Mr. Rice's assets could have been frozen. [beVERB-ed]
Freeze is also a noun.
...a freeze on private savings.
10. See also freezing, frozen
Phrasal verbs:
See freeze out
See freeze over
See freeze up
More Synonyms of freeze
freeze in British English
(friːz)
verbWord forms: freezes, freezing, froze (frəʊz) or frozen (ˈfrəʊzən)
1.
to change (a liquid) into a solid as a result of a reduction in temperature, or (of a liquid) to solidify in this way, esp to convert or be converted into ice
2. (whenintr, sometimes foll by over or up)
to cover, clog, or harden with ice, or become so covered, clogged, or hardened
the lake froze over last week
3.
to fix fast or become fixed (to something) because of the action of frost
4. (transitive)
to preserve (food) by subjection to extreme cold, as in a freezer
5.
to feel or cause to feel the sensation or effects of extreme cold
6.
to die or cause to die of frost or extreme cold
7.
to become or cause to become paralysed, fixed, or motionless, esp through fear, shock, etc
he froze in his tracks
8. (transitive)
to cause (moving film) to stop at a particular frame
9.
to decrease or cause to decrease in animation or vigour
10.
to make or become formal, haughty, etc, in manner
11. (transitive)
to fix (prices, incomes, etc) at a particular level, usually by government direction
12. (transitive)
to forbid by law the exchange, liquidation, or collection of (loans, assets, etc)
13. (transitive)
to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or use of (something specified)
14. (transitive)
to stop (a process) at a particular stage of development
15. (transitive) informal
to render (tissue or a part of the body) insensitive, as by the application or injection of a local anaesthetic
16. (intransitive; foll byonto) informal, mainly US
to cling
noun
17.
the act of freezing or state of being frozen
18. meteorology
a spell of temperatures below freezing point, usually over a wide area
19.
the fixing of incomes, prices, etc, by legislation
20. another word for frost
sentence substitute
21. mainly US
a command to stop still instantly or risk being shot
Derived forms
freezable (ˈfreezable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English frēosan; related to Old Norse frjōsa, Old High German friosan, Latin prūrīre to itch; see frost
to be formed into ice; be hardened or solidified by cold
2.
to become covered or clogged with ice
3.
to be or become very cold
4.
to become attached by freezing
wheels frozen to the ground
5.
to die or be damaged by exposure to cold
6. US
to become motionless or fixed
7.
to be made momentarily speechless or unable to move or act by a strong, sudden emotion
to freeze with terror
8.
to become formal, haughty, or unfriendly
9. Mechanics
to stick or become tight as a result of expansion of parts caused by overheating, increased friction due to inadequate lubrication or corrosion, etc.
verb transitive
10.
to cause to form into ice; harden or solidify by cold
11.
to cover or clog with ice
12.
to make very cold; chill
13.
to remove sensation from, as with a local anesthetic
14.
to preserve (food) by solidifying it through rapid refrigeration
15.
to make fixed or attached by freezing
16.
to kill or damage by exposure to cold
17.
to make or keep motionless or stiff
18. US
to frighten or discourage by cool behavior, unfriendliness, etc.
19.
to make formal, haughty, or unfriendly
20. US
a.
to fix (prices, employment, an employee, etc.) at a given level or place by authoritative regulation
b.
to stop consumer production or use of (a critical material), as in wartime
c.
to make (funds, assets, etc.) unavailable to the owners
d.
to suspend the production of (weapons, esp. nuclear weapons)
noun
21.
a freezing or being frozen
22.
a period of cold, freezing weather; a frost
Idioms:
freeze (on) to
freeze out
Derived forms
freezable (ˈfreezable)
adjective
Word origin
ME fresen < OE freosan, akin to OHG friosan (Ger frieren) < IE base *preus-, to freeze, burn like cold > L pruina, hoarfrost, pruna, glowing coals
freeze in Hospitality
(friz)
Word forms: (present) freezes, (past) froze, (perfect) frozen, (progressive) freezing
verb
(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, cooking)
If you freeze something such as food, you preserve it by storing it at a temperature below freezingpoint.
Freeze the extra sauce to preserve it for later.
Find out how to freeze, thaw, and reheat foods safely.
The easiest way to preserve food is to freeze it at a very cold temperature.
More idioms containing
freeze
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
Examples of 'freeze' in a sentence
freeze
But can you answer these three questions about this famous freeze frame?
The Sun (2016)
This makes uncomfortable reading when we recall the big freeze of six years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are all sorts of combinations and none of them involves a swim across a freezing lake.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Temperatures had been below freezing over the weekend.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There was thunder and lightning and it was freezing cold.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It came as huge areas of the country yesterday ground to a halt after overnight snow and freezing temperatures.
The Sun (2017)
Too cold and food freezes, which ruins salad and veg.
The Sun (2017)
It's freezing on that ice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The next morning would be freezing and still from dawn until mid-morning, a small window of opportunity.
The Sun (2016)
The idea is for a crowd of people to stand perfectly still, as if frozen in time, while somebody else films them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We stacked up the blankets and jumpers but it was still freezing.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The temperature dropped below freezing at night.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It could just mean that the whole of the financial sector and the government freeze up.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Very little is lost when foods are quick frozen.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley (ed) The Medicine Chest - your family's guide to prescription drugs (1988)
The nuclear freeze is another interesting case.
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
This reduces friction and makes the train immune to frozen points and leaves on the line.
The Sun (2015)
This comes at a time when egg freezing is soaring.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The limited fresh fish range is supported by a solid frozen section.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
There at night the temperature can drop to below freezing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They have certainly earned their corn during the big freeze.
The Sun (2010)
My chicken was lukewarm with freezing cold tomatoes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This big freeze is being caused by a traffic jam in the atmosphere.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Also bulk out meals with frozen peas and sweetcorn.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is the ideal time to get stuck in before the ground becomes frozen.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If there are positives about pay freezes there are also negatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Our lives are still frozen in time.
The Sun (2007)
Hair ice forms when the air temperature is below freezing point while the ground remainsabove freezing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The trick is to get the fizz in there but stop before the food freezes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It's dark and freezing for eight months of the year.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is because the government has recently frozen carbon taxes, which increase the price of electricity.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Frozen veg have a bad reputation, but they are picked and frozen instantly and retain many of their nutrients.
The Sun (2014)
On the other hand, exposure to wind lowers temperatures and increases evaporation;cold air trapped in a hollow can cause a pond to freeze for long periods.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
freeze
Weather phenomena
In other languages
freeze
British English: freeze /friːz/ VERB
water When water freezes, it is so cold that it becomes ice.
American English: freeze
Arabic: يَتَجَمَّدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: congelar
Chinese: 冻结
Croatian: smrznuti
Czech: mrznout
Danish: fryse
Dutch: vriezen
European Spanish: congelarse
Finnish: jäätyä
French: geler
German: frieren
Greek: παγώνω
Italian: gelare
Japanese: 凍る
Korean: 얼다
Norwegian: fryse
Polish: zamarznąć
European Portuguese: congelar
Romanian: a îngheța
Russian: замерзать
Latin American Spanish: congelar
Swedish: frysa
Thai: กลายเป็นน้ำแข็ง
Turkish: donmak
Ukrainian: замерзати
Vietnamese: đông lại
British English: freeze /friːz/ VERB
food If you freeze food, you make it very cold so that it will not go bad.
American English: freeze
Arabic: يَتَجَمَّدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: congelar
Chinese: 冷冻
Croatian: zalediti
Czech: mrazit
Danish: fryse
Dutch: invriezen
European Spanish: congelar
Finnish: pakastaa
French: congeler
German: einfrieren
Greek: παγώνω
Italian: congelare
Japanese: ･･･を冷凍する
Korean: 얼리다
Norwegian: nedfryse
Polish: zamrażać
European Portuguese: congelar
Romanian: a congela
Russian: заморозить
Latin American Spanish: congelar
Swedish: frysa
Thai: แช่แข็ง
Turkish: dondurmak
Ukrainian: заморожувати
Vietnamese: đông lạnh
All related terms of 'freeze'
freeze-up
If something freezes up or if something freezes it up , it becomes completely covered or blocked with ice .
deep freeze
A deep freeze is the same as a → freezer .
freeze-dry
to preserve (a substance) by rapid freezing and subsequently drying in a vacuum
freeze out
If you freeze someone out of an activity or situation, you prevent them from being involved in it by creating difficulties or by being unfriendly.
freeze over
If something freezes over , it becomes covered with a layer of ice or other frozen substance.
wage freeze
a fixing of wages that prevents them rising above a given level
freeze assets
The assets of a company or a person are all the things that they own.
freeze-dried
Freeze-dried food has been preserved by a process of rapid freezing and drying.
freeze-dries
to preserve (a substance) by rapid freezing and subsequently drying in a vacuum
freeze-frame
A freeze-frame from a film is an individual picture from it, produced by stopping the film or video tape at that point.
price freeze
a temporary ban on price increases for a product or service
quick-freeze
to preserve (food) by subjecting it to rapid refrigeration at temperatures of 0°C or lower
wages freeze
a fixing of wages that prevents them rising above a given level
freeze salaries
A salary is the money that someone is paid each month by their employer , especially when they are in a profession such as teaching , law, or medicine .
freeze (on) to
to cling to; hold fast to
freezeout
a game in which each player begins with a predetermined amount of money and must withdraw from the game once that amount is lost , until one player is left with all the winnings
freeze-frame button
a control button on a remote control device, used to stop a moving image to view it as a still
deepfreeze
a type of refrigerator in which food , etc, is stored for long periods at temperatures below freezing
to make your blood run cold make one's blood freeze
If you say that something makes your blood run cold or makes your blood freeze , you mean that it makes you feel very frightened .
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
extremely cold
it's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
the weather is freezing cold
Chinese translation of 'freeze'
freeze
(friːz)
Word forms:ptfroze
Word forms:ppfrozen
vi
[liquid, weather]结(結)冰 (jiébīng)
[pipe]冻(凍)住 (dòngzhù)
[person] (with cold) 冻(凍)僵 (dòngjiāng)
(fig, from fear, shock) 呆(獃)住 (dāizhù)
vt
[water, lake]使结(結)冰 (shǐ jiébīng)
[food]冷冻(凍) (lěngdòng)
[wages, prices, bank account, assets]冻(凍)结(結) (dòngjié)
n(c)
(= cold weather) 霜冻(凍) (shuāngdòng)
(on wages, prices) 冻(凍)结(結) (dòngjié)
it may freeze tonight今晚可能会(會)结(結)冰 (jīnwǎn kěnéng huì jiébīng)
All related terms of 'freeze'
deep freeze
冷藏箱 lěngcángxiāng [ 个(個) gè ]
freeze out
▶ to freeze sb out of sth 把某人从(從)某处(處)挤(擠)走 bǎ mǒurén cóng mǒuchù jǐzǒu
freeze over
( river, lake ) 结(結)冰 jiébīng
it may freeze tonight
今晚可能会(會)结(結)冰 jīnwǎn kěnéng huì jiébīng
to freeze sb out of sth
把某人从(從)某处(處)挤(擠)走 bǎ mǒurén cóng mǒuchù jǐzǒu
1 (verb)
Definition
the act of freezing or state of being frozen
The ground froze solid.
Synonyms
ice over or up
harden
Mould the mixture into shape before it hardens.
stiffen
The fine-tuning lens in the eye stiffens with age.
solidify
The thicker lava would have taken two weeks to solidify.
congeal
The blood had started to congeal.
become solid
glaciate
2 (verb)
Definition
to preserve (food) by subjection to extreme cold
You can freeze the soup at this point.
Synonyms
deep freeze
cool
Huge fans are used to cool the factory.
ice
chill
refrigerate
Refrigerate the dough overnight.
put in the freezer
3 (verb)
Definition
to feel or cause to feel the effects of extreme cold
The cold morning froze my fingers.
Synonyms
chill
Chill the fruit salad until serving time.
benumb
4 (verb)
Definition
to become motionless through fear, shock, etc.
She froze when the beam of the flashlight struck her.
Synonyms
stop
stop dead
stop suddenly
stop in your tracks
5 (verb)
Definition
to fix (prices, incomes, etc.) at a particular level
Wages have been frozen and workers laid off.
Synonyms
fix
He's fixed a time when I can see him.
hold
limit
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt.
hold up
peg
The bank wants to peg interest rates at 9%.
6 (verb)
Definition
to forbid by law the exchange or collection of (loans, assets, etc.)
They have already frozen their aid programme.
Synonyms
suspend
The union suspended strike action this week.
stop
I think she really would have liked to stop everything right there.
shelve
Sadly, the project has now been shelved.
curb
cut short
discontinue
Do not discontinue the treatment without consulting your doctor.
1 (noun)
Definition
a spell of temperatures below freezing point
The trees were damaged by a freeze in December.
Synonyms
cold snap
frost
There is a frost in the ground.
freeze-up
2 (noun)
Definition
the fixing of incomes, prices, etc. by legislation
A wage freeze was imposed on all staff.
Synonyms
fix
hold
halt
Air traffic has been brought to a halt.
suspension
standstill
Production is more or less at a standstill.
phrasal verb
See freeze someone out
Additional synonyms
in the sense of benumb
Definition
to make numb or powerless
Synonyms
paralyse,
shock,
freeze,
stun,
chill,
numb,
deaden,
stupefy,
anaesthetize
in the sense of congeal
Definition
to change from a liquid to a semisolid state
The blood had started to congeal.
Synonyms
thicken,
set,
freeze,
harden,
clot,
stiffen,
condense,
solidify,
curdle,
jell,
coagulate,
gelatinize
in the sense of cool
Definition
to make or become cooler
Huge fans are used to cool the factory.
Synonyms
make cool,
freeze,
chill,
refrigerate,
cool off
Synonyms of 'freeze'
freeze
Explore 'freeze' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of stiffen
Definition
to make or become stiff or stiffer
The fine-tuning lens in the eye stiffens with age.