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adjective C1 Advanced Uncommon

frosty

FROS-tee

Frosty (adjective) means Cold and icy, often with a thin layer of frost. Example: “It was a frosty morning, and the car windows were completely white.”

adjective
1
Cold and icy, often with a thin layer of frost.
"It was a frosty morning, and the car windows were completely white."
"They walked home through the frosty streets, breath steaming in the air."
2
Cold or unfriendly in manner.
"She gave him a frosty look after the comment."
"The negotiations began with a frosty handshake."

How to use frosty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCold and icy, or (about a person) cold and unwelcoming.

Common pairings
a frosty morning a frosty reception frosty weather

Word forms

frostier comparative, frostiest superlative

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Test yourself on “frosty” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

It was a _____ morning, and the car windows were completely white.

Etymology

From Old English forstiġ, "covered in frost" — built from frost plus the adjective ending -y.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “frosty” mean?

The word “frosty” means cold and icy, often with a thin layer of frost. In plain terms, cold and icy, or (about a person) cold and unwelcoming.

How do you pronounce “frosty”?

“Frosty” is pronounced FROS-tee (/ˈfɹɔsti/ in IPA).

How do you use “frosty” in a sentence?

Here is “frosty” used in a sentence: “It was a frosty morning, and the car windows were completely white.”

What part of speech is “frosty”?

“Frosty” is an adjective.

Where does the word “frosty” come from?

The word “frosty” comes from Old English. From Old English forstiġ, "covered in frost" — built from frost plus the adjective ending -y.

Is “frosty” a common word?

“Frosty” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “frosty” have?

“Frosty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: cold and icy, often with a thin layer of frost.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial