frostbite

B2 Topic:Health & Medicine

US /ˈfrɑːstbaɪt/ UK /ˈfrɒstbaɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #23065

Meanings

1

noun
injury and possible destruction of body tissue caused by exposure to severe cold

The climber developed frostbite in two fingers after losing a glove.
2

verb
to injure living tissue through exposure to freezing cold

A bitter wind can frostbite exposed skin within minutes.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · injury and possible... cold injuryfreezing injury

2 verb · to injure living tissue... freeze nip

Word family

Forms frostbitten

Derived forms frostbitten

Related forms frosthypothermiafreeze

Etymology

A compound of frost + bite, likening cold's injury to the wound of a bite. The irregular participle frostbitten follows the pattern of bite and bitten.

Topics

Health & Medicine

External links

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