Definition of "freeze" in Anglais

verb

1. (intransitive, copulative) Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature.

   • The lake froze solid.
   • 1855, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Song of Hiawatha, Book XX: The Famine, Ever thicker, thicker, thicker / Froze the ice on lake and river,
   • 1915, Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson, The How and Why Library: Wonders, Section II: Water, Running water does not freeze as easily as still water.

2. (transitive) To lower something's temperature to the point that it freezes or becomes hard.

   • Don't freeze meat twice.
   • 1888, Elias Lönnrot, John Martin Crawford (translator, from German), The Kalevala, Rune XXX: The Frost-fiend, Freeze the wizard in his vessel, / Freeze to ice the wicked Ahti, ...

3. (intransitive) To drop to a temperature below zero degrees celsius, where water turns to ice.

   • It didn't freeze this winter, but last winter was very harsh.

4. (intransitive, informal) To be affected by extreme cold.

   • It's freezing in here!
   • Don't go outside wearing just a t-shirt; you'll freeze!

5. (intransitive, of machines and software) To come to a sudden halt, stop working (functioning).

   • Since the last update, the program freezes after a few minutes of use.

6. (intransitive, of people and other animals) To stop (become motionless) or be stopped due to attentiveness, fear, surprise, etc.

   • Despite all of the rehearsals, I froze as soon as I got on stage.

7. (transitive) To cause someone to become motionless.

8. (figuratively) To lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling; to shut out; to ostracize.

   • Over time, he froze towards her, and ceased to react to her friendly advances.

9. To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.

10. (transitive) To prevent the movement or liquidation of a person's financial assets

    • The court froze the criminal's bank account.

11. Of prices, spending etc., to keep at the same level, without any increase.

12. (ambitransitive) To prevent from showing any visible change.

    • Pressing the pause button will freeze the video playback.
    • Playback will freeze if you pause the video.

13. (transitive, ice hockey) To trap (the puck) so that it cannot be played.

noun