thaw

/θɔ/

/θɔ/

Other forms: thawed; thawing; thaws

When things thaw, they're coming out of deep freeze and warming up. You can thaw a chicken, and a chilly friendship can thaw too.

Anything that thaws is warming up after a frigid or chilly period. The weather thaws when spring hits, especially after a bad winter. When you take food out of the freezer, it thaws. When you have an unpleasant relationship with someone, that can thaw too. A warm, friendly gesture from one person to another can be a sign that their cold relationship is thawing. When you think of thawing, think "Warming up."

Definitions of thaw

1. verb

   become or cause to become soft or liquid
   “the ice thawed”

   synonyms: dethaw, dissolve, melt, unfreeze, unthaw

   types:

   deliquesce

   melt, liquefy, or dissolve, by absorbing moisture from the air

   de-ice, defrost, deice

   make or become free of frost or ice

   type of:

   flux, liquefy, liquify

   become liquid or fluid when heated
2. noun

   the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
   “the thawing of a frozen turkey takes several hours”

   synonyms: melt, melting, thawing

   type of:

   heating, warming

   the process of becoming warmer; a rising temperature

   phase change, phase transition, physical change, state change

   a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
3. noun

   warm weather following a freeze, when snow and ice melt
   “they welcomed the spring thaw”

   synonyms: thawing, warming

   type of:

   atmospheric condition, conditions, weather, weather condition

   the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
4. noun

   a relaxation or slackening of tensions or reserve; becoming less hostile
   “the thaw between the United States and Russia has led to increased cooperation in world affairs”

   type of:

   loosening, relaxation, slackening

   an occurrence of control or strength weakening