See Also: thaw(1)(dictionary)
thaw(2)(dictionary)
thaw 1, verb(dictionary)
thaw 2, noun(dictionary)

thaw(2) (iou)



thaw verb. . Pa. pple -ed, thawn.
[Old English Tawian = Middle Low German doien, Dutch dooien, Old High German douwen, from West Germanic.]
I. verb trans.
Convert (a frozen substance, esp. ice or snow) to a liquid state. OE.
Shakespeare Merchant of Venice Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles. fig.: J. Cox Energy to thaw the frozen lake of my ideas.
Free from the physical effect of frost; unfreeze (a frozen thing); make (a person etc.) warm again after being very cold. Also foll. by out. L16.
Lytton After I was lodged, thawed, and fed, I fell..asleep. W. Goldman 'Hungry for anything special?' 'Thaw me out some chicken, maybe.'
fig. Soften to sympathy or geniality; break down the coldness and reserve of; make less harsh or severe. L16.
S. Richardson She is a charming girl, and may be thawed by kindness. New York Times Krushchev invited the columnist..to a hunting lodge..to discuss ways of thawing the cold war.
II. verb intrans.
Esp. of ice or snow: pass from a frozen to a liquid or semi-liquid state, melt. ME.
impers. in it thaws, it is thawing, etc., the local temperature is such that ice, snow, etc., begins to melt. ME.
A. J. Cronin It thawed and the roads turned to slush.
Become unfrozen; become warm again after being very cold. Also foll. by out. L16.
E. Bowen His nose..nipped by the wind, thawed painfully in the even warmth of the house. A. T. Ellis Eric..fondled the beef to ensure..it had thawed properly.
fig. Become more sympathetic or genial; throw off coldness and reserve; become less harsh or severe, unbend. L16.
R. Pollok Pride of rank And office, thawed into paternal love. H. Roth That brusque, cold manner of his had thawed a little. B. Bainbridge Muriel might be a shade off-hand. But she'll thaw.
thawer noun (rare) a person who or thing which causes thawing M17.
thawing verbal noun the action of the verb; an instance of this, a thaw: ME.