Frozen: meaning, definitions and examples

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frozen

 

[ ˈfrəʊz(ə)n ]

Adjective / Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

food

Preserved by freezing; made or kept cold by freezing.

Synonyms

chilled, frosty, iced.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
frozen

Use this term when something has been turned to ice, often used for food or weather conditions. It generally indicates something has been at or below the freezing point.

  • The lake is frozen solid in the winter
  • Make sure to keep the vegetables frozen until you need them
chilled

This word is best used when something has been cooled to a low temperature but is not frozen, often used for beverages or food items.

  • We enjoyed chilled wine with our dinner
  • The chilled salad was very refreshing on a hot day
iced

This word is typically used to describe something that has ice added to it, often used for drinks. It can also describe objects covered in ice.

  • We ordered iced coffee from the café
  • The roads were dangerously iced after the storm
frosty

Use this term to describe something that is covered with frost or has a very cold temperature. It can also have a figurative meaning, indicating a cold or unfriendly attitude.

  • The windows were frosty this morning
  • She gave me a frosty glare when I asked her a question

Examples of usage

  • frozen fruit
  • frozen vegetables
  • frozen yogurt
Context #2 | Adjective

emotion

Unable to move or be changed; fixed in place or time.

Synonyms

fixed, immobile, static.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
frozen

Used when something is turned into ice or very cold, or when something is not changing. Can also imply being unable to move due to fear or shock.

  • The lake was completely frozen, perfect for ice skating.
  • He froze when he saw the bear in front of him.
immobile

Describes someone or something that cannot move at all, usually temporarily.

  • After the accident, he was immobile for weeks.
  • The statue stood immobile in the plaza.
fixed

Refers to something that is securely in place and not moving, or a situation that cannot be changed.

  • The shelf is fixed to the wall with sturdy brackets.
  • They have a fixed schedule for all their meetings.
static

Used for something that shows little or no change over time, often used in technical or formal contexts.

  • The company's growth was static last year.
  • The image on the screen remained static.

Examples of usage

  • a frozen expression
  • a frozen moment
Context #3 | Verb

computer

Cause (a computer) to lock up and be unable to operate.

Synonyms

crash, hang, lock-up.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
frozen

Use this word when referring to software or applications that have become unresponsive and do not accept any input.

  • The screen is frozen and I can't do anything
  • My computer is frozen after I tried to update the software
crash

Appropriate for situations where software, applications, or systems suddenly stop working, often causing the program to close unexpectedly.

  • My game crashed in the middle of a match
  • The app crashes every time I try to open it
hang

Used when software or applications become unresponsive for a period of time but might recover on their own.

  • My laptop tends to hang when I have too many tabs open
  • The program hangs occasionally, especially when processing large files
lock-up

Describes a situation where a computer or software becomes entirely unresponsive, requiring a restart or shutdown to fix. This term can have a slight negative connotation.

  • My computer experienced a lock-up after I installed the new drivers
  • The whole system is on lock-up, and I need to reboot

Examples of usage

  • My computer froze while I was working on it.

Translations

Translations of the word "frozen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 congelado

🇮🇳 जमा हुआ

🇩🇪 gefroren

🇮🇩 beku

🇺🇦 заморожений

🇵🇱 zamrożony

🇯🇵 凍った (kōtta)

🇫🇷 congelé

🇪🇸 congelado

🇹🇷 donmuş

🇰🇷 얼어붙은 (eoreobuteun)

🇸🇦 مجمد (mujammad)

🇨🇿 zmrazený

🇸🇰 zmrazený

🇨🇳 冷冻的 (lěngdòng de)

🇸🇮 zamrznjen

🇮🇸 frosinn

🇰🇿 мұздатылған

🇬🇪 გაყინული (gayinuli)

🇦🇿 dondurulmuş

🇲🇽 congelado

Etymology

The word 'frozen' originated from the Middle English word 'frosen,' which is the past participle of 'fresen,' meaning 'to freeze.' The concept of freezing food for preservation dates back to ancient times when people used ice and snow to keep their food cold. Over the years, advancements in technology have made it possible to freeze food quickly and efficiently, leading to the widespread availability of frozen foods in modern times.

See also: freeze, freezer, freezing, unfreeze, unfreezing.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,151, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.