freeze - Definition & Meaning

freeze

Third Person

freezes

Present Participle

freezing

Past Tense

froze

Past Participle

frozen

to become hard or turn to ice because of reaching or going below 0° Celsius

As the temperature dropped overnight, the water in the pond began to freeze.
The rain that fell during the cold snap froze on contact with the ground.
During the winter storm, the branches of the trees froze, creating a picturesque scene of frost-covered landscape.
As the sun set, the puddles on the road started to freeze, making driving conditions hazardous for motorists.
The river gradually froze as the winter chill set in, transforming its flowing waters into a solid sheet of ice.

Synonyms:

to cause something to become solid or turn into ice by reducing its temperature

transitive

to feel extremely cold

Despite wearing multiple layers, she was still freezing while waiting for the bus in the bitter winter wind.
Exposed to the elements, the mountaineer was freezing on the summit.
She could feel her fingers and toes starting to freeze in the frigid wind.
After being stranded in the blizzard, they feared they might freeze to death if help didn't arrive soon.
Despite bundling up in warm clothing, she still felt her nose and cheeks starting to freeze in the icy wind.

(of the weather) to be very cold

The forecast predicted that temperatures would freeze overnight, prompting residents to take precautions against frost.
The cold front moved in, causing it to freeze across the region, even during the daytime.
With temperatures expected to freeze overnight, farmers rushed to protect their crops from frost damage.
During the winter storm, temperatures are expected to freeze, creating hazardous conditions on the roads.

to store food products at a very low temperature to maintain their freshness and quality

transitive

I freeze extra portions of soup in individual containers for quick meals later.
Farmers freeze fruits and vegetables at peak ripeness to preserve their flavor and nutrients.
Supermarkets freeze meat and seafood to extend their shelf life.
We freeze leftover bread to prevent it from going stale.
Gardeners freeze herbs from the summer harvest to use throughout the winter.

Antonyms:

to suddenly stop moving or become immobilized due to fear, shock, or surprise

As the bear emerged from the woods, Sarah froze, unable to move or scream.
The loud crash startled him, causing him to freeze in place, his heart pounding in his chest.
When she saw the snake slithering across the path, she froze, her mind racing with fear.
As the intruder entered the room, Mary froze, her eyes wide with terror.
When the loud explosion echoed through the building, everyone froze, their eyes wide with shock.

Synonyms:

to look at or treat someone with disapproval, disdain, or indifference

transitive

When she asked for help, he froze her with a glare, making her feel unwelcome.
The room fell silent as the teacher froze the misbehaving student with a stern look.
Even though they were once close friends, she now freezes him whenever they pass each other in the hallway.
Despite his attempts to apologize, she continued to freeze him with her silent treatment.
When he made a mistake during the presentation, his boss froze him with a withering glare.

to legally prevent money, property, or a bank account from being used or sold

transitive

The government decided to freeze the assets of the company suspected of money laundering until the investigation was complete.
In cases of suspected fraud, banks have the authority to freeze accounts to prevent further unauthorized transactions.
The court issued an injunction to freeze the defendant's assets, pending resolution of the lawsuit.
To protect the interests of creditors, the bankruptcy trustee may choose to freeze the debtor's bank accounts.
During divorce proceedings, a court may issue an order to freeze joint assets until a settlement can be reached.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

to stop a movie or video to look at a particular frame

transitive

During the film analysis class, the professor would frequently freeze the movie to discuss specific scenes in detail.
She paused the video player to freeze the frame showing the suspect entering the building, hoping to gather more clues.
The film critic would often freeze the movie at key moments to analyze the composition and cinematography.
In order to capture screenshots for their presentation, they had to freeze the video at precise moments.
The director instructed the editor to freeze the footage at the climax of the scene, emphasizing the dramatic tension.

(of software) to stop working properly and no longer respond to actions