frost

The word “frost” means a thin layer of ice crystals that forms on surfaces exposed to freezing air. In plain terms, the icy coating that forms in cold weather, or to coat a cake with icing.

“Frost” is pronounced frost (/fɹɔst/ in IPA).

Here is “frost” used in a sentence: “There was frost on the windshield this morning.”

Depending on how it is used, “frost” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “frost” comes from Old English. From Old English forst, going back to a Proto-Germanic word related to "freeze".

“Frost” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Frost” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin layer of ice crystals that forms on surfaces exposed to freezing air.

Ice is any frozen water, while frost is specifically a thin layer of ice crystals that forms directly on surfaces exposed to freezing air, such as grass, windows, or cars. Frost forms when water vapor freezes onto a surface, rather than from liquid water freezing solid.

A freeze refers to weather cold enough for temperatures to drop to or below freezing point, while frost is the visible layer of ice crystals that can form as a result. You can have a freeze without visible frost, though frost can also describe the freezing weather itself.

As a verb, to frost a cake means to cover it with icing, and the sweet coating is called frosting in American English or icing in British English. This baking sense is unrelated to frost as ice crystals, though both involve a thin white covering.

Hoarfrost is a type of frost made up of feathery white ice crystals that form when water vapor freezes onto cold surfaces, often coating grass and branches. It is a more elaborate form of ordinary frost.