freeze

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   fixing something at a particular level, such as prices or wages

   During the downturn, the boss implemented a freeze on hiring.

2. 2
   verb

   be cold

   I could freeze to death in this office when the air conditioning is turned on

3. 3
   verb

   change from a liquid to a solid when cold

   Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit

4. 4
   verb

   Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature.

   The lake froze solid.

5. 5
   verb

   To lower something's temperature to the point that it freezes or becomes hard.

   Don't freeze meat twice.

6. 6
   verb

   To drop to a temperature below zero degrees celsius, where water turns to ice.

   It didn't freeze this winter, but last winter was very harsh.

7. 7
   verb

   To be affected by extreme cold.

   It's freezing in here!

8. 8
   verb

   Of a machine or system, to come to a sudden halt, to stop working (functioning).

   Since the last update, the program freezes after a few minutes of use.

Etymology

From Middle English fresen, from Old English frēosan (“to freeze”), from Proto-West Germanic *freusan, from Proto-Germanic *freusaną (“to freeze”), from Proto-Indo-European *prews- (“to freeze; frost”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian friis, friise, früüs (“to freeze”), Saterland Frisian fjoose, frjoze (“to freeze”), West Frisian frieze (“to freeze”), Central Franconian freese (“to freeze”), Cimbrian briizan, vriizan (“to be cold”), Dutch vriezen (“to freeze”), Low German freren, fresen (“to freeze”), Luxembourgish fréieren (“to freeze”), German frieren (“to freeze”), Yiddish פֿרירן (frirn…