frost

¹

[ frawst, frost ]

noun

1. a degree or state of coldness sufficient to cause the freezing of water.
2. Also called hoarfrost. a covering of minute ice needles, formed from the atmosphere at night upon the ground and exposed objects when they have cooled by radiation below the dew point, and when the dew point is below the freezing point.
3. an opaque coating of tiny, white, granular ice particles, formed on the walls or contents of a freezer by the condensation of water vapor; rime.
4. the act or process of freezing.
5. coldness of manner or temperament:

   We noticed a definite frost in his greeting.

   Synonyms: reserve, distance, indifference, aloofness

6. Informal. a coolness between persons.
7. Informal. something that meets with lack of enthusiasm, as a theatrical performance or party; failure; flop.
8. a milkshake, frappe, or similar drink:

   a chocolate frost.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with frost.
2. to give a frostlike surface to (glass, metal, etc.).
3. to ice (a cake, cookies, etc.).
4. to bleach selected strands of (a person's hair) in order to create highlights.
5. to kill or injure by frost:

   a freezing rain that badly frosted the tomato plants.

6. to make angry:

   I was frosted by his critical comment.

verb (used without object)

1. to become covered with frost (often followed by up or over ):

   The windshield has frosted over.

2. (of varnish, paint, etc.) to dry with a film resembling frost.

Frost

²

[ frawst, frost ]

noun

1. Robert (Lee), 1874–1963, U.S. poet.

Frost

¹

/ frɒst /

noun

1. FrostSir David (Paradine)1939MBritishFILMS AND TV: television presenter Sir David ( Paradine ). born 1939, British television presenter and executive, noted esp for political interviews
2. FrostRobert (Lee)18741963MUSWRITING: poet Robert ( Lee ). 1874–1963, US poet, noted for his lyrical verse on country life in New England. His books include A Boy's Will (1913), North of Boston (1914), and New Hampshire (1923)

frost

²

/ frɒst /

noun

1. a white deposit of ice particles, esp one formed on objects out of doors at night See also hoarfrost
2. an atmospheric temperature of below freezing point, characterized by the production of this deposit
3. degrees below freezing point: eight degrees of frost indicates a temperature of either –8°C or 24°F
4. informal.
   something given a cold reception; failure
5. informal.
   coolness of manner
6. the act of freezing

verb

1. to cover or be covered with frost
2. tr to give a frostlike appearance to (glass, etc), as by means of a fine-grained surface
3. tr to decorate (cakes, etc) with icing or frosting
4. tr to kill or damage (crops, etc) with frost

frost

/ frôst /

1. A deposit of tiny, white ice crystals on a surface. Frost forms through sublimation, when water vapor in the air condenses at a temperature below freezing. It gets its white color from tiny air bubbles trapped in the ice crystals.
2. See more at dew point

Derived Forms

• ˈfrostˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• frostless adjective
• frostlike adjective
• un·frost verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of frost¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English frost, forst; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German, Old Norse frost; akin to freeze

Word History and Origins

Origin of frost¹

Old English frost ; related to Old Norse, Old Saxon, Old High German frost ; see freeze

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. degree of frost, British. the degree of temperature Fahrenheit below the freezing point:

   10 degrees of frost is equivalent to 22°F.

Example Sentences

Sophy’s lawyer, Christopher Frost, said in a statement to Rolling Stone that Young’s filing “hurled ugly and unfair claims of racism at my client.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rebecca Frost, a nurse and mother of three children in private school in Somerset, is pleased the action is being taken.

From BBC

Frost will be possible in some interior valleys.

From Los Angeles Times

Dennis Frost, a retired programmer who has served on the Florence Project’s Living Experience Expert Panel, points out that social engagement is very important for people who are diagnosed with dementia.

From BBC

“This is what our members worked for and believed in for so many decades,” said Roberta Frost, secretary of the Klamath Tribal Council.

From Los Angeles Times