verb

thaw

verb

To melt or soften after being frozen, or to cause something frozen to melt.

"Take the chicken out of the freezer to thaw overnight."

"The snow began to thaw as spring arrived."

To become friendlier or less reserved after being cold or distant.

"Her icy manner slowly thawed over the course of the evening."

noun

A period when frozen ground, ice, or snow melts, or a period of improving relations.

"The January thaw turned the roads to slush."

"Diplomats spoke of a thaw in relations between the two countries."

How to Use Thaw

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo go from frozen/cold to melted/warm — used for ice, food, feelings, or tense relationships.

Common pairings

thaw out a thaw in relations

Word Forms

thawed past tense, thawn past tense, thaw plural, thawed plural, thaws plural, Thaws plural, thaws singular, thaw singular, thawed singular, thawest singular, thawedst singular, thaweth singular

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Take the chicken out of the freezer to _____ overnight.

Etymology

From Old English þawian, "to thaw" — an old Germanic word for melting ice or snow.

Rhymes for thaw

haw shaw yeehaw Kershaw Henshaw rickshaw Bradshaw Crenshaw

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