thaw

thaw¹ [θo: US θo:] v

[: Old English; Origin: thawian]

1.) also thaw out [I and T]

if ice or snow thaws, or if the sun thaws it, it turns into water

≠ ↑freeze

▪ The lake thawed in March.

2.) it thaws

if it thaws, the weather becomes warmer, so that ice and snow melt

▪ It thawed overnight.

3.) also thaw out [I and T]

to let frozen food become warmer until it is ready to cook

≠ ↑freeze

▪ Thaw frozen meat in its packet and then cook as soon as possible.

4.)

to become friendlier and less formal

▪ After a few glasses of wine Robert began to thaw a little.

thaw out [i]phr v

if your body thaws out, or if you thaw it out, it gets warmer until it is a normal temperature again

thaw sth<=>out

▪ He held his hands in front of the fire to thaw them out.

thaw ²

thaw² n

1.) [singular]

a period of warm weather during which snow and ice melt

▪ The thaw begins in March.

2.)

an improvement in relations between two countries, after a period of unfriendliness