freeze

[[t]friz[/t]]

v. froze, fro•zen, freez•ing, n.

1) phs to become hardened into ice or into a solid body; change from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat

2) phs to become hard or stiffened because of loss of heat

3) to suffer the effects or sensation of intense cold:

We froze until the heat came on[/ex]

4) phs to be of the degree of cold at which water freezes:

It may freeze tonight[/ex]

5) to lose warmth of feeling:

My heart froze at the news[/ex]

6) to become speechless or immobilized

7) to stop suddenly and remain motionless:

I froze in my tracks[/ex]

8) to become obstructed by the formation of ice:

The water pipes froze[/ex]

9) to die or be injured because of frost or cold

10) to become fixed to something by or as if by the action of frost

11) cvb to become unfriendly, secretive, or aloof (often fol. by up)

12) cvb to become temporarily inoperable; cease to function (often fol. by up):

The new software makes my computer freeze[/ex]

13) phs to change from a fluid to a solid form by loss of heat; congeal

14) phs to form ice on the surface of

15) to harden or stiffen (an object containing moisture) by cold

16) to quick-freeze

17) to subject to freezing temperature

18) to cause to suffer the effects of intense cold

19) to chill with fear

20) to immobilize with fright or alarm

21) to kill by frost or cold:

A late snow froze the buds[/ex]

22) to fix fast with ice:

a sled frozen to a sidewalk[/ex]

23) to obstruct or close by the formation of ice:

Cold had frozen the pipes[/ex]

24) gov to fix (rents, prices, etc.) at a specific amount, usu. by government order

25) cvb gov to stop or limit production, use, or development of:

an agreement to freeze nuclear weapons[/ex]

26) bus to prevent (assets) from being liquidated or collected

27) srg to render (a part of the body) insensitive to pain or slower in its functioning by artificial means

28) to discourage by unfriendly or aloof behavior

29) pht to photograph (a moving subject) at a shutter speed fast enough to produce an unblurred, seemingly motionless image

30) cvb sbz to stop by means of a freeze-frame mechanism

31) spog to maintain possession of (a ball or puck) for as long as possible usu. without trying to score

32) phv freeze out, to exclude or compel to withdraw from participation, esp. by cold treatment or severe competition

33) phv freeze over, to become coated with ice

34) an act or instance of freezing

35) the state of being frozen

36) mer a period of very cold weather

37) gov a legislative action to control prices, rents, production, etc

38) gov a decision by one or more nations to stop or limit production or development of weapons

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Etymology: bef. 1000; ME fresen, OE frēosan freez′a•ble, adj.