freeze-up
[ freez-uhp ]
/ ˈfrizˌʌp /
noun Informal.
a freezing over of a body of water in an area.
a period of below-freezing temperatures.
the condition of being immobilized or inoperative through freezing: car engine freeze-up in winter.
Origin of freeze-up
1875–80,
Americanism; noun use of verb phrase
freeze up
Words nearby freeze-up
freeze-dry,
freeze-drying,
freeze-etch,
freeze-fracture,
freeze-frame,
freeze-up,
freezeout,
freezer,
freezer burn,
freezing,
freezing drizzle
Definition for freeze-up (2 of 2)
Origin of freeze
before 1000; (v.) Middle English
fresen, Old English
frēosan; cognate with Middle Low German
vrēsen, Old Norse
frjōsa, Old High German
friosan (German
frieren); (noun) late Middle English
frese, derivative of the v.
OTHER WORDS FROM freeze
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH freeze
freeze friezeExample sentences from the Web for freeze-up
British Dictionary definitions for freeze-up (1 of 2)
freeze-up
noun informal
a period of freezing or extremely cold weather
US and Canadian
- the freezing of lakes, rivers, and topsoil in autumn or early winter
- the time of year when this occurs
British Dictionary definitions for freeze-up (2 of 2)
freeze
/ (friːz) /
verb freezes, freezing, froze (frəʊz) or frozen (ˈfrəʊzən)
noun
sentence substitute
mainly US
a command to stop still instantly or risk being shot
Derived forms of freeze
freezable, adjectiveWord Origin for freeze
Old English
frēosan; related to Old Norse
frjōsa, Old High German
friosan, Latin
prūrīre to itch; see
frost
Medical definitions for freeze-up
freeze
[ frēz ]
v.
To pass from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat.
To make or become congealed, stiffened, or hardened by exposure to cold.
Scientific definitions for freeze-up
freeze
[ frēz ]
To change from a liquid to a solid state by cooling or being cooled to the freezing point.