thawed; thawing; thaws
1
a
: to go from a frozen to a liquid state : melt
b
: to become free of the effect (such as stiffness, numbness, or hardness) of cold as a result of exposure to warmth
2
: to be warm enough to melt ice and snow
—used with it in reference to the weather
3
: to abandon aloofness, reserve, or hostility : unbend
4
: to become mobile, active, or susceptible to change
: to cause to thaw
1
: the action, fact, or process of thawing
2
: a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice
the January thaw
3
: the action or process of becoming less aloof, less hostile, or more genial
a thaw in international relations
Synonyms
Examples of thaw in a Sentence
Verb
Plant the seeds in early spring as soon as the ground thaws.
The sun will soon thaw the snow and ice.
The weather is beginning to thaw.
Our cold fingers and toes eventually thawed.
She held the coffee cup tightly, trying to thaw her frozen fingers.
Noun
flooding from the spring thaw
a thaw in international relations
Recent Examples on the Web
Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 22 May 2024
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, reported that dozens of Alaska’s most remote waterways are turning from a crystal clear blue color into a cloudy orange hue, and a thawing permafrost may be to blame.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for thaw 
Verb
Scientists suspect the drastic color change is the result of thawing permafrost — which essentially is frozen ground — releasing minerals into crystal clear water, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Earth and Environment.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 22 May 2024
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, reported that dozens of Alaska’s most remote waterways are turning from a crystal clear blue color into a cloudy orange hue, and a thawing permafrost may be to blame.
—David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for thaw
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thaw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Thaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thaw. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thaw
1 of 2 verb1
: to melt or cause to melt
ice on the pond is thawing
2
: to become free of the effects of cold temperatures by being exposed to warmth
frozen foods thawed before cooking
thaw
2 of 2 noun1
: the action, fact, or process of thawing
2
: a period of weather warm enough to thaw ice and snow
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