freezing

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   The freezing point of water, zero degrees celsius.

   Despite this, the average temperature at the surface [of Mars] is 50–60K below freezing, making it hard to imagine that any plants or animals could survive.

2. 2
   adj

   Aloof, unfriendly.

   1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados He turned at the door of the inner office and dropped a freezing eye on the offender. "Get those letters copied before you go out to lunch, Binns," he remarked in a sufficiently loud voice.

3. 3
   noun

   The change in state of a substance from liquid to solid by cooling to a critically low temperature.

   Hence, there is a succession of thawings and freezings. The former expand, and endeavour to restore the surface of the ground to its natural condition, while the latter contract and harden it.

4. 4
   noun

   the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid

5. 5
   adj

   Suffering or causing frost.

6. 6
   adj

   Very cold.

7. 7
   noun

   The action of numbing with anesthetics.

8. 8
   verb

   present participle and gerund of freeze

Etymology

By surface analysis, freeze + -ing.