thaw
/θɔː/ (bre, ipa) · [θˈɔ] /θɔː/ (ame, ipa) · [θˈɔ] /ˈthȯ How to pronounce thaw (audio)/ (ame, mw) · [θˈɔ] /θɑː/ (ame, ipa)
thaw — verb
- thawpresent simple I / you / we / they
- thawshe / she / it
- thawedpast simple
- thawing-ing form
1. if ice, snow, frozen ground, or food thaws, it stops being hard from cold and be
if ice, snow, frozen ground, or food thaws, it stops being hard from cold and becomes soft or liquid again; if you thaw it, you make that happen
By breakfast, the berries had thawed enough to stir into yogurt.
result pattern: thawed enough to use
Saira left the fish in the sink until it thawed for dinner.
intransitive: food becomes usable again
Warm rain thawed the icy steps before the school bus arrived.
After three sunny days, the top layer of soil finally thawed.
- freeze
become hard or icy because of cold
文法句型
something thaws
thaw + object
thaw enough to use
thaw in the fridge
用法筆記
Often used for frozen food, ice, snow, ground, or body parts becoming usable again after freezing. Use the transitive pattern when a person or source of heat causes the change.
常見錯誤
2. if a person, relationship, or tense atmosphere thaws, the guarded feeling fades
if a person, relationship, or tense atmosphere thaws, the guarded feeling fades and people begin acting more open, relaxed, or friendly
The room thawed once David thanked everyone for staying late.
atmosphere thawed after a social cue
After the apology, Hui thawed and asked the whole family to sit down.
person thawed: attitude turns warmer
Trade talks thawed when both sides agreed to share new data.
Ilan thawed toward the new coach after Saturday's long bus ride.
- stiffen
become more tense or formal again
文法句型
someone thaws
relations thaw
thaw toward + person
atmosphere thaws
用法筆記
Used for people, conversations, and relations rather than literal temperature. Toward often introduces the person who receives the warmer attitude.
常見錯誤
3. if a very cold person, place, or thing thaws, the effect of the cold leaves it a
if a very cold person, place, or thing thaws, the effect of the cold leaves it and it moves back toward a normal temperature; if you thaw it, you warm it after cold exposure
Beatriz wrapped her hands around the mug to thaw her fingers.
thaw + body part after cold exposure
The cabin slowly thawed after the heater ran for an hour.
intransitive: place returns to normal warmth
Kwame stood by the stove while numb feet thawed at last.
Elise carried the seedlings inside to thaw the chilled roots.
- cool down
become colder or lose warmth again
文法句型
thaw + body part
room thaws
thaw after the heater comes on
thaw + chilled object
用法筆記
This sense is about ordinary cold leaving something, not about ice or frozen food turning soft. It is common with hands, feet, rooms, soil, and other things that were painfully cold.
常見錯誤
thaw — noun
1. a thaw is a clear easing of tension, when people or groups who were distant begi
a thaw is a clear easing of tension, when people or groups who were distant begin speaking or behaving in a warmer way
There was a clear thaw after the two brothers finally laughed together.
a thaw after tension eases
Reporters noticed a thaw in the mayor's tone during the second meeting.
a thaw in someone's manner
The holiday dinner helped bring a thaw to months of silence.
A thaw between the teams began with one short phone call.
- warming
shares the metaphor but often sounds less formal
- easing
focuses on tension becoming less strong
- improvement
broader and less tied to personal warmth
- freeze
a return to cold or hostile relations
文法句型
a thaw in relations
bring a thaw
thaw between + groups
用法筆記
Most often used about relations, talks, or someone's manner. It names the change itself, not the person who becomes friendlier.
2. a thaw is a milder spell after freezing weather, when built-up ice and snow star
a thaw is a milder spell after freezing weather, when built-up ice and snow start loosening and disappearing
The spring thaw flooded the path behind the old train station.
spring thaw as a season event
Farmers waited for the thaw before driving tractors into the field.
the thaw makes land usable again
After the thaw, dirty snow slid from the shop roof.
The village road turns to mud during every March thaw.
- warm spell
broader and not limited to snow or ice melting
- mild spell
focuses on gentler weather, not necessarily melting
- freeze
a return to weather cold enough to harden water
文法句型
the spring thaw
after the thaw
during the thaw
用法筆記
Often refers to the first warm period after winter or after a hard freeze. Spring thaw is the most common fixed phrase.
3. a thaw is the act or process of something frozen becoming soft or liquid again
a thaw is the act or process of something frozen becoming soft or liquid again
Slow thaw reduces the amount of juice that leaks from the meat.
slow thaw for food quality
The lab measured each thaw of the soil before planting began.
thaw of + noun
A quick thaw can make the outside soft while the center stays icy.
Store the soup safely during thaw to stop bad germs from growing.
- defrosting
common for food and appliances rather than broad natural processes
- unfreezing
more formal and less idiomatic in everyday speech
- melting
can imply a fuller change into liquid
- freezing
the process of becoming hard from cold
文法句型
slow thaw
quick thaw
during thaw
thaw of + noun
用法筆記
Use this sense when you mean the process itself, especially in cooking, science, or weather talk. It is more technical than the weather-period sense.