thaw

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To gradually cause (something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow) to melt or soften by…

   To gradually cause (something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow) to melt or soften by raising the temperature.

   • Sette the potte to the fyre to thawe the water: […]
   • The Frame of burniſh'd Steel, that caſt a Glare / From far, and ſeem'd to thavv the freezing Air.
2. 2

   To gradually cause (someone or something that is very cold) to warm up.

   • [M]y very lippes might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roofe of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I ſhould come by a fire to thavv me, […]
   • I led him ben but any pingle, / And beekt him bravvly at my ingle; / Dighted his face, his handies thovv'd, / 'Til his young cheeks, like roſes, glovv'd.
   • After I was lodged, thawed, and fed, I fell asleep, and slept for eighteen hours, without waking once; to my mind, it was a miracle that I ever woke again.
3. 3

   To cause (something inactive) to become active

   To cause (something inactive) to become active; also, to cause (something unfeeling) to have feelings.

   • [N]ovv my loue is thavv'd, / VVhich like a vvaxen Image 'gainſt a fire / Beares no impreſſion of the thing it vvas.
   • JENNY pretends an Errand Hame, / Young ROGER draps the reſt, / To vvhiſper out his melting Flame, / And thovv his Laſſie's Breaſt.
4. ›+ 14 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To cause (someone or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly) to become friendly…

      To cause (someone or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly) to become friendly or gentle.

   2. 5

      To cause (something rigid) to become limp.

      • "Speak aloud, my lord," said Elizabeth, "and at farther distance, so please you—your breath thaws our ruff. What have you to ask of us?"
   3. 6

      Of something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow

      Of something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow: to gradually melt or soften as a result of the temperature being raised.

      • the ice thaws
      • O that this too too ſallied [sullied] fleſh vvould melt, / Thavv and reſolue it ſelfe into a devve, […]
   4. 7

      Of someone or something that is very cold

      Of someone or something that is very cold: to gradually warm up.

      • The bog's green harper, thawing from his sleep, / Twangs a hoarse note and tried a shortened leap; […]
   5. 8

      With the dummy pronoun it

      With the dummy pronoun it: of the weather: to become sufficiently warm for ice, snow, etc., to melt.

      • It’s beginning to thaw.
      • It Thaweth as the weather dothe whan the froſt breaketh⸝ […] It thaweth a pace: […]
   6. 9

      Of a person or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly

      Of a person or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly: to become friendly or gentle.

      • Her anger has thawed.
      • The atmosphere at the meeting never really thawed.
   7. 10

      Of something inactive

      Of something inactive: to become active; also, of something unfeeling: to develop feelings.

   8. 11

      A gradual melting or softening of something frozen (such as earth, ice, or snow) when the…

      A gradual melting or softening of something frozen (such as earth, ice, or snow) when the temperature rises; the transformation of something frozen into a fluid or semifluid.

   9. 12

      A gradual warming up of someone or something that is very cold.

      • raging floods pursue their hasty thaw; / Our thaw was mild , the cold not chased away
   10. 13

       Of a person who is reserved or unfriendly

       Of a person who is reserved or unfriendly: an act of becoming friendly or gentle.

   11. 14

       A period of relaxation of restrictions in a country or state

       A period of relaxation of restrictions in a country or state; also, a period of increased friendliness or understanding, or of reduced hostility or tension in relations, between states.

   12. 15

       A period of weather warm enough to melt ice, snow, etc.

   13. 16

       A river in South Wales which flows into the Bristol Channel at Aberthaw.

   14. 17

       A surname from Burmese.

The neighborhood

• neighborsnowmelt