seize up
verb/ˈsiːz ˌʌp/UK/ˈsiz ˌʌp/CA/ˈsiːz ˌɐp/
Etymology
The term originates c. 1870 referring to a machine which jammed up because of excessive heat or friction; it has been used figuratively since c. 1950.
Definitions
To stop functioning
To stop functioning; to come to a halt.
- Iceland's foreign currency market has seized up after the three largest banks collapsed.
- I love casual fun – but seize up sexually in a serious relationship [title]
To stiffen or become tight and difficult to move.
- It was hard to write as my fingers had seized up with the cold weather.
- I have had over six years to think about my future and it does not look good. I … can expect no cure or improvement in my condition as my muscles and joints seize up through lack of use.
To stop working suddenly, and become impossible to start again.
- My car seized up this morning. So I had to catch the bus.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for seize up. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA