Freeze
/friːz/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo change or be changed from a liquid to a solid state by cold; to become extremely cold.
/friːz/
To become hardened into ice or to become very cold
The water in the pipes will freeze if the temperature drops too low.
💡 Simply: Imagine you put water in the freezer, and it turns into a solid block of ice. That's what it means to freeze. It's like something gets super cold and hard.
👶 For kids: When something gets so cold that it turns hard like ice, it's called freeze!
More Examples
She froze the berries to use them in smoothies later.
The pond froze solid overnight.
How It's Used
"The river froze over during the winter."
"I froze the leftovers to eat them later."
To become or cause to become motionless or paralyzed, often due to fear, surprise, or shock.
/friːz/
To become immobilized or motionless
He froze when he saw the snake.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're so surprised or scared that you can't move. You're frozen, just like a statue! It’s like a sudden stop of movement, whether it's your body or a machine.
👶 For kids: When you get so scared or surprised that you can't move, that's like freezing!
More Examples
The computer screen froze, and I couldn't do anything.
The runner froze at the starting line.
How It's Used
"The deer froze in the headlights."
"My computer froze, and I had to restart it."
To hold or maintain something at a constant level or amount; to prevent change or movement.
/friːz/
To fix or hold something at a certain level or amount
The company froze the salaries for the year due to financial difficulties.
💡 Simply: Imagine stopping something from changing, like prices on your favorite toys. It's like putting everything on pause or keeping something exactly the same. The idea of 'freezing' a level or an amount, so it cannot be changed for some time.
👶 For kids: When something is 'frozen', it means it's not changing. It's staying the same, like your favorite toy that you'll always have.
More Examples
The government decided to freeze all immigration.
The manager froze the hiring process due to the company's financial constraints.
How It's Used
"The government froze all bank accounts."
"The judge froze his assets to prevent their disposal."
The act of freezing or the state of being frozen; a period of cold weather where temperatures drop below freezing point.
/friːz/
The act of freezing or the state of being frozen
The overnight freeze damaged much of the crops.
💡 Simply: The moment or situation of when something freezes. For example, when it gets really cold and things are freezing or stopping in place.
👶 For kids: The act of things getting cold and turning into ice or stopping!
More Examples
The long freeze caused problems for the city's pipes.
The software has a freeze frame function that the user can select.
How It's Used
"The freeze last night caused many plants to die."
"The video editing software has a freeze frame option."
Idioms & expressions
Freeze frame
A single frame from a film or video that is held on screen for a period of time.
"The movie used a freeze frame to emphasize the ending."
To freeze up
To become unable to move or speak because of fear, shock, or embarrassment.
"He froze up when asked to speak in public."
Freeze to death
To die from extreme cold.
"The hiker almost froze to death in the mountains."
From Old English *frēosan* meaning 'to become ice, be stiff with cold'. Related to Dutch *vriezen* and German *frieren*.
Used since Old English, with a long history reflecting its primary meaning relating to cold and immobility. Used in literature to portray moments of shock, fear or emotional paralysis.
Memory tip
Imagine water turning to ice – it freezes!
Word Origin
"to freeze"