the upthrust and cracking of a ground surface through the freezing and expansion of water underneath
Also called: frost heaving
frost heave in American English
noun
Geology
an uplift in soil caused by the freezing of internal moisture
Word origin
[1945–50]This word is first recorded in the period 1945–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: ergative, fail-safe, on-line, spin-off, synchronized swimming
Examples of 'frost heave' in a sentence
frost heave
Continued from page 37 'national rejoicing' when it opened in 1958, until it succumbed to 'frost heave' 47 days later and was forced to close.