Freeze: meaning, definitions and examples
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freeze
[friːz ]
Definitions
weather
To reach or drop below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), causing water to turn into ice.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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freeze |
Used when talking about lowering temperature to the point where a liquid turns into a solid, or stopping motion.
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solidify |
Generally used to describe the process of making something solid or more definite, often in a metaphorical sense.
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crystallize |
Commonly used in scientific or figurative contexts to describe the process of forming or making something clear and definite.
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Examples of usage
- The temperature will freeze tonight.
- The lake froze over during the cold snap.
motion
To become motionless or immobile.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
freeze |
Use when referring to someone or something becoming motionless, often due to fear or surprise.
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stop |
Use in everyday situations to indicate ceasing an activity or motion.
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halt |
Use in formal or official contexts to indicate stopping an action or movement, often abruptly.
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Examples of usage
- He froze when he saw the bear in the woods.
- Don't freeze, keep moving!
computing
A state in which a program or system stops responding to inputs.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
freeze |
In the context of systems or programs, 'freeze' describes a state where the system stops responding to inputs, usually temporarily. The metaphorical use refers to any kind of situation where progress is halted.
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hang |
Use 'hang' when a computer program or system becomes unresponsive but hasn't completely crashed. Commonly used in computing to describe a slow or stalled process.
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crash |
Use 'crash' when referring to a sudden failure of a system, especially computer systems or software. This term often implies a need for a restart or troubleshooting.
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Examples of usage
- My computer experienced a freeze and I had to restart it.
- The freeze was caused by a software bug.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from the Old English 'freosan', meaning 'to harden' or 'to become solid'.
- In Middle English, it was spelled 'freesen', showing its long history in the English language.
- The term gained popularity in the context of food preservation in the 19th century as technology advanced.
Science
- Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), a key point in temperature measurement.
- When water freezes, its molecules arrange into a crystalline structure, making ice less dense than liquid water.
- Freezing is a physical change, meaning that when ice melts, it can return to its original liquid form without any chemical alteration.
Pop Culture
- In the animated movie 'Frozen', the character Elsa has the magical ability to freeze objects and create ice structures.
- The term 'freeze-frame' is often used in photography and film to describe a still image captured from a moving scene.
- Colloquially, when someone is told to 'freeze', it can mean to stop and remain very still, often in a playful context.
Psychology
- The 'freeze' response is one of the body's reactions to fear, where a person may become immobile to avoid detection.
- In therapy, some techniques encourage 'freezing' a mental image to help process overwhelming emotions.
- Children often go through a 'freeze' stage during play, where they pause to observe or think before acting.
History
- During the Ice Age, large parts of the Earth were covered in ice, shaping landscapes and human evolution.
- The invention of refrigeration in the 19th century revolutionized food storage, allowing perishables to freeze and last longer.
- In World War II, freezing temperatures in key battles affected troops' mobility and survival rates.
Translations
Translations of the word "freeze" in other languages:
🇵🇹 congelar
🇮🇳 जमाना
🇩🇪 gefrieren
🇮🇩 membekukan
🇺🇦 заморожувати
🇵🇱 zamarzać
🇯🇵 凍る (こおる)
🇫🇷 geler
🇪🇸 congelar
🇹🇷 dondurmak
🇰🇷 얼다
🇸🇦 تجميد
🇨🇿 zmrazit
🇸🇰 zmraziť
🇨🇳 冻结 (dòngjié)
🇸🇮 zamrzniti
🇮🇸 frysta
🇰🇿 мұздату
🇬🇪 გაყინვა
🇦🇿 dondurmaq
🇲🇽 congelar