frost
/frɒst/ (bre, ipa) · [frˈɔst] /frɔːst/ (ame, ipa) · [frˈɔst] /ˈfrȯst/ (ame, mw) · [frˈɔst] /frɑːst/ (ame, ipa)
frost — noun
- frostsingular
- frostsplural
1. the white icy coating that appears on outdoor surfaces — like grass, car windows
the white icy coating that appears on outdoor surfaces — like grass, car windows, and rooftops — during nights cold enough for water to freeze
A thick layer of frost covered the grass when Hiro went for his morning run.
collocation: thick layer of frost / covered with frost
Padma scraped the frost off her car windscreen before driving to work.
verb pattern: scrape off / remove frost
The frost on the kitchen window made delicate patterns like tiny ferns and leaves.
After the first heavy frost of autumn, the fallen leaves felt crisp and brittle underfoot.
Lien noticed frost sparkling on the fence posts when she stepped outside at sunrise.
- dew
water droplets that form on cool surfaces when the temperature stays above freezing
文法句型
frost + on + [surface]
[adjective] + frost
用法筆記
Often paired with adjectives indicating amount or severity: 'light frost', 'heavy frost', 'hard frost'. When saying an object IS covered in frost, use 'covered with/in frost'.
常見錯誤
2. a stretch of cold weather during which temperatures reach zero degrees Celsius o
a stretch of cold weather during which temperatures reach zero degrees Celsius or lower, often producing ice on surfaces and damaging unprotected plants
Early frosts in October can destroy a farmer's entire vegetable crop for the season.
countable plural: frosts / collocation: early frost
The weather forecast warned of frost overnight, so Esteban brought the potted plants indoors.
collocation: warned of frost
A hard frost last night turned the bird bath into a solid block of ice.
Gardeners in this region wait until after the last spring frost before planting tomatoes.
The north experienced ten degrees of frost for three nights in a row.
- thaw
a period of warmer weather that melts ice and snow
文法句型
[adjective] + frost
a + [adjective] + frost
[number] + degrees of frost
用法筆記
In British English, 'degrees of frost' is used to say how many degrees below freezing the temperature is (e.g., 'five degrees of frost' = -5°C). In American English, 'freezing weather' or 'below-freezing temperatures' is more common.
常見錯誤
frost — verb
- frostpresent simple I / you / we / they
- frosts3rd person singular
- frosting-ing form
- frostedpast simple
1. to acquire a surface layer of white ice crystals as temperatures drop below free
to acquire a surface layer of white ice crystals as temperatures drop below freezing; or to cause an object to be coated this way by the cold
The car windows frosted overnight, and Lucas waited for the heater to melt the ice.
phrasal verb: frost over
If the temperature stays below zero all night, the grass will frost and turn white.
The cold wind frosted the oak tree branches, making them look coated in sugar.
Élise wiped a circle on the window where her breath had frosted the glass.
- ice over
more general — can refer to any ice, not just the fine crystals of frost
- thaw
to melt ice or frost back into liquid
文法句型
frost + over/up (intransitive)
frost + [object] (transitive: cover with frost)
用法筆記
Intransitive use ('the window frosted over') is more common than transitive use ('the cold frosted the window'). The phrasal verb 'frost over' or 'frost up' is the typical way to describe windows, windshields, and glass surfaces.
常見錯誤
2. to cover the surface of a cake, cupcake, or other baked food with a sweet mixtur
to cover the surface of a cake, cupcake, or other baked food with a sweet mixture made of sugar, butter, and flavourings for decoration or added taste
Dahlia spent an hour carefully frosting her sister's birthday cake with pale pink buttercream.
common pattern: frost + a cake + with + [type of icing]
The bakery assistant frosted each cupcake with a swirl of chocolate icing.
Aylin tried to frost a three-layer cake, but the icing kept sliding off.
Christopher let the cookies cool before frosting them so the icing would set.
- ice
British equivalent; 'to ice a cake' means the same as 'to frost a cake'
文法句型
frost + [cake/cupcake/cookie] + with + [icing type]
用法筆記
This is the standard term in American English. In British English, the equivalent is 'to ice a cake' (verb) or 'icing' (noun). The noun form 'frosting' is only used in American English; British English calls it 'icing'.
常見錯誤
3. to change the colour of selected thin strands of hair to a lighter shade using c
to change the colour of selected thin strands of hair to a lighter shade using chemicals, creating a mixed-colour effect that looks like natural highlights
Eshe decided to frost her hair for the summer, adding fine blonde streaks to her dark locks.
The stylist suggested frosting a few strands around Tamar's face to brighten her look.
common phrase: frost strands / frosting around the face
Stefan's hair was frosted with silver-grey streaks that made his curly hair look more defined.
Ife frosted her hair with a store-bought kit, but wished she had gone to a salon.
文法句型
frost + [possessive] + hair
have + [hair] + frosted
frosted + [colour] + highlights
用法筆記
This technique was especially popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. Today, 'highlights' or 'balayage' are more common terms in salons. 'Frosted' when describing hair can also refer to a natural grey or silver look in older people.
常見錯誤
4. to treat a glass surface with acid or sand so that its smooth finish becomes rou
to treat a glass surface with acid or sand so that its smooth finish becomes rough and lets light through without being see-through
The bathroom window was frosted for privacy while letting in natural light.
passive: [surface] is frosted for privacy
Emre chose frosted glass panels for the office meeting room to create a semi-private workspace.
common modifier: frosted glass
The glass shower door had been frosted with a decorative pattern of bamboo leaves.
A frosted glass lampshade gives a softer, warmer glow than a clear one.
- etch
to create a design on glass using acid, which can result in a frosted effect on the patterned areas
文法句型
frost + [glass/surface]
frosted + [noun] as adjective
用法筆記
The past participle 'frosted' is by far the most common form and is used as an adjective before nouns: 'frosted glass', 'frosted window', 'frosted finish'. The active verb form 'to frost glass' is rare and mostly technical.
常見錯誤
5. to harm or kill plants and crops by exposing them to cold weather that turns the
to harm or kill plants and crops by exposing them to cold weather that turns the moisture inside their leaves or fruits into ice
The early winter freeze frosted the farmer's strawberry fields beyond recovery.
subject: cold weather / freeze; object: crops
Hassan's rose bushes were frosted by the sudden cold snap in late November.
passive: plants were frosted by [cold weather]
A late spring frost frosted the cherry blossoms, so no fruit grew that year.
The young tomato plants were frosted before Hiro could cover them with sheets.
The basil plants that Indra left on her balcony were frosted by the overnight freeze.
文法句型
[cold/weather] + frosts + [plant/crop]
[plant] + is/was frosted
[plant] + frosts (intransitive, rare)
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'freeze' (verb sense 5): 'frost' as a verb specifically means damage from cold, while 'freeze' focuses on the water turning to ice. 'Frosted' plants often turn black or brown and become limp.