frozen

American  

[froh-zuhn] / ˈfroʊ zən /

verb

1. past participle of freeze.

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adjective

1. congealed by cold; turned into ice.

2. covered with ice, as a stream.

3. frigid; very cold.

4. injured or killed by frost or cold.

5. obstructed by ice, as pipes.

6. chilly or cold in manner; unfeeling.

   a frozen stare.

7. rigid; immobilized.

   The child was frozen with fear.

8. quick-frozen.

   frozen foods.

9. (of food) chilled or refrigerated.

10. (especially of a drink) mixed with ice and frappéed in an electric blender.

11. in a form that is not readily convertible into cash; not liquid.

    frozen assets.

12. not permitted to be changed or incapable of being altered; fixed.

    frozen rents; frozen salaries.

13. Canasta. (of the discard pile) unable to be picked up by a player unless the player's hand contains a natural pair to match the top card of the pile.

frozen British  

/ ˈfrəʊzən /

verb

1. the past participle of freeze

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adjective

1. turned into or covered with ice

2. obstructed or blocked by ice

3. killed, injured, or stiffened by extreme cold

4. (of a region or climate) icy or snowy

5. (of food) preserved by a freezing process

6. 1. (of prices, wages, etc) arbitrarily pegged at a certain level

   2. (of business assets) not convertible into cash, as by government direction or business conditions

7. frigid, unfeeling, or disdainful in manner

8. motionless or unyielding

   he was frozen with horror

Other Word Forms

• frozenly adverb
• frozenness noun
• prefrozen adjective
• unfrozen adjective

Etymology

Origin of frozen

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

Explanation

Frozen liquids are so cold that they've become ice. Frozen orange juice makes a delicious homemade popsicle. If your car's door handle is frozen, it's impossible to open, and if your driveway's surface is frozen, it's a sheet of ice. If your TV dinner is still frozen after you cook it, your microwave may not be working properly. When people are frozen, they're often exaggerating how cold they are — or they may be struck as still as a statue, frozen in place. Frozen comes from freeze, with its Old English root freosan, "turn to ice."

Example Sentences

He has canceled or frozen more than 7,800 science and technology grants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

As a result, the specimen appears as a three dimensional mummified fossil, frozen in its final position with one arm tucked beneath its body.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

The case against Bang is long-running and has seen raids at Hybe's headquarters, some of his assets frozen and calls for him to step down as company chairman.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Last week, for instance, I took stock of a few stragglers: sweet potato coins, carrots, frozen onions, scallions, a handful of spinach, half a can of coconut milk, chicken thighs.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

On a river in Alaska while training I once saw a place where a whirlpool had frozen into a cone, open at the bottom like a beautiful trap waiting to suck the whole team down.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• chilled
• frigid
• ice-cold
• iced
• icy