frost
frost
Frost (noun) means a thin layer of ice crystals that forms on surfaces exposed to freezing air. Example: “A white frost covered the lawn, and every blade of grass sparkled in the sun.”
noun
1
A thin layer of ice crystals that forms on surfaces exposed to freezing air.
"A white frost covered the lawn, and every blade of grass sparkled in the sun."
"We scraped the frost off the car windows before driving to work."
"There was frost on the windshield this morning."
2
Freezing weather cold enough to produce this layer of ice.
"Gardeners cover tender plants at night when they expect frost."
"The forecast warns of frost tonight, so wrap up warm if you go out."
"An early frost damaged the crops."
verb
1
To cover a cake or other baked good with icing.
"Once the sponge has cooled completely, you can frost it with lemon icing."
"Would you like to help me frost the birthday cake this afternoon?"
"She frosted the cupcakes with pink buttercream."
2
To become covered with a thin layer of ice.
"The car windows frost over whenever the temperature drops sharply at night."
"Leave the glass outside and it will frost within an hour."
"The grass frosted overnight."
How to use frost
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe icy coating that forms in cold weather, or to coat a cake with icing.
UK vs US
"Frosting" (the icing itself) is the standard American term; British English usually just says "icing".
Common pairings
frost forms
a hard frost
frost a cake
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Word forms
- Plural
- frosts
- Third person singular
- frosts
- Past tense
- frosted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A white _____ covered the lawn, and every blade of grass sparkled in the sun.
Etymology
From Old English forst, going back to a Proto-Germanic word related to "freeze".
Related words
Rhymes for frost
See all rhymes for frost →Frequently asked questions
What does “frost” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “frost”?
“Frost” is pronounced frost (/fɹɔst/ in IPA).
How do you use “frost” in a sentence?
Here is “frost” used in a sentence: “There was frost on the windshield this morning.”
What part of speech is “frost”?
Depending on how it is used, “frost” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “frost” come from?
The word “frost” comes from Old English. From Old English forst, going back to a Proto-Germanic word related to "freeze".
Is “frost” a common word?
“Frost” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “frost” have?
“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.
What is the difference between frost and ice?
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.
What is the difference between frost and freeze?
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.
What is the difference between frost and frosting on a cake?
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.
What is hoarfrost?
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.
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