thaw

[ thaw ]

verb (used without object)

1. to pass or change from a frozen to a liquid or semiliquid state; melt.

   Antonyms: freeze

2. to be freed from the physical effect of frost or extreme cold (sometimes followed by out ):

   Sit by the fire and thaw out.

   Synonyms: warm

3. (of the weather) to become warm enough to melt ice and snow:

   It will probably thaw today.

4. to become less formal, reserved, or aloof:

   He thawed at their kindness.

5. to become less hostile or tense:

   International relations thawed.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to change from a frozen to a liquid or semiliquid state; melt.
2. to free from the physical effect of frost or extreme cold; bring to a more normal temperature, especially to room temperature:

   I took the steaks out of the freezer and thawed them.

3. to make less cold, formal, or reserved.

   Synonyms: warm

4. to make less tense or hostile.

noun

1. the act or process of thawing.
2. the act or fact of becoming less formal, reserved, or aloof.
3. a reduction or easing in tension or hostility.
4. (in winter or in areas where freezing weather is the norm) weather warm enough to melt ice and snow.
5. a period of such weather:

   We had a two-week thaw in January.

6. the thaw, the first day in the year when ice in harbors, rivers, etc., breaks up or loosens enough to begin flowing to the sea, allowing navigation:

   The Anchorage thaw came on May 18th.

thaw

/ θɔː /

verb

1. to melt or cause to melt from a solid frozen state

   the snow thawed

2. to become or cause to become unfrozen; defrost
3. intr to be the case that the ice or snow is melting

   it's thawing fast

4. intr to become more sociable, relaxed, or friendly

noun

1. the act or process of thawing
2. a spell of relatively warm weather, causing snow or ice to melt
3. an increase in relaxation or friendliness

Derived Forms

• ˈthawless, adjective
• ˈthawer, noun

Other Words From

• thawless adjective
• re·thaw verb
• under·thaw verb
• un·thawed adjective
• un·thawing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thaw¹

First recorded before 1000; (verb) Middle English thawen, Old English thawian; cognate with Dutch dooien, Old Norse theyja; (noun) late Middle English, derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of thaw¹

Old English thawian; related to Old High German douwen to thaw, Old Norse theyja to thaw, Latin tabēre to waste away

Synonym Study

See melt ¹.

Example Sentences

It’s up to us to hold up the mirror, to start thawing those stone hearts with stories that peel away the layers of fear and hate.

From Salon

Frosty ties between the two countries seemed to have thawed slightly after India resumed processing visas in October 2023.

From BBC

Scientists believe hydrothermal water vents blast the core’s heat upward, thawing an expansive ocean that sloshes roughly 15 miles below the moon’s icy crust — far deeper than humans have ever dug on Earth.

From Los Angeles Times

Encouraged by this mild thaw in relations and Maula Jatt’s global success, its makers had hoped the folk drama would attract audiences in India.

From BBC

Researchers say that if these weather patterns continue, the thaw will only accelerate.

From BBC

Related Words

• defrost
• dissolve
• loosen
• melt
• relax
• soften
• warm up