Word Study
thaw
CIDE DICTIONARY
thaw, v. i. [AS. , ; akin to D. dovijen, G. tauen, thauen (cf. also verdauen to digest, OHG. douwen, firdouwen), Icel. , Sw. töa, Dan. töe, and perhaps to Gr. th`kein to melt. √56.].
- To melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften; -- said of that which is frozen; as, the ice thaws. [1913 Webster]
- To become so warm as to melt ice and snow; -- said in reference to the weather, and used impersonally. [1913 Webster]
thaw, v. t.
To cause (frozen things, as earth, snow, ice) to melt, soften, or dissolve. [1913 Webster]
thaw, n.
The melting of ice, snow, or other congealed matter; the resolution of ice, or the like, into the state of a fluid; liquefaction by heat of anything congealed by frost; also, a warmth of weather sufficient to melt that which is congealed. Dryden. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
thaw, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. (often foll. by out) (of ice or snow or a frozen thing) pass into a liquid or unfrozen state.
2 intr. (usu. prec. by it as subject) (of the weather) become warm enough to melt ice etc. (it began to thaw).
3 intr. become warm enough to lose numbness etc.
4 intr. become less cold or stiff in manner; become genial.
5 tr. (often foll. by out) cause to thaw.
6 tr. make cordial or animated.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of thawing.
2 the warmth of weather that thaws (a thaw has set in).
3 Polit. a relaxation of control or restriction.
--v.
1 intr. (often foll. by out) (of ice or snow or a frozen thing) pass into a liquid or unfrozen state.
2 intr. (usu. prec. by it as subject) (of the weather) become warm enough to melt ice etc. (it began to thaw).
3 intr. become warm enough to lose numbness etc.
4 intr. become less cold or stiff in manner; become genial.
5 tr. (often foll. by out) cause to thaw.
6 tr. make cordial or animated.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of thawing.
2 the warmth of weather that thaws (a thaw has set in).
3 Polit. a relaxation of control or restriction.
Derivative
thawless adj.
Etymology
OE thawian f. WG; orig. unkn.
THESAURUS
thaw
bend, colliquate, cut, decoagulate, decoct, defrost, deliquesce, dissolve, fluidify, fluidize, flux, forbear, forgive, fuse, fusibility, fusion, give quarter, have mercy upon, have pity, heat up, hold in solution, infuse, leach, let up on, liquation, liquefy, liquesce, liquidize, lixiviate, melt, melt down, melting, pardon, percolate, refine, relax, relent, render, reprieve, run, running, smelt, soften, solubilize, solve, spare, take pity on, thawing, thermoplasticity, thin, unbend, unclot, unfreeze, warm, warm up, yieldROGET THESAURUS
thaw
Inexcitability
VB be composed, laisser faire, laisser aller, take things easily, take things as they come, take it easy, rub on, live and let live, take easily, take cooly, take in good part, aequam servare mentem, bear the brunt, bear well, go through, support, endure, brave, disregard, tolerate, suffer, stand, bide, abide, aby, bear with, put up with, take up with, abide with, acquiesce, submit, submit with a good grace, resign oneself to, reconcile oneself to, brook, digest, eat, swallow, pocket, stomach, make light of, make the best of, make 'a virtue of necessity', put a good face on, keep one's countenance, check, check oneself, compose, appease (moderate), propitiate, repress, render insensible, overcome one's excitability, allay one's excitability, repress one's excitability, master one's feelings, make oneself easy, make one's mind easy, set one's mind at ease, set one's mind at rest, calm down, cool down, gentle, thaw, grow cool, be borne, be endured, go down.Pity
VB pity, have pity, show pity, take pity, commiserate, compassionate, condole, sympathize, feel for, be sorry for, yearn for, weep, melt, thaw, enter into the feelings of, forbear, relent, relax, give quarter, wipe the tears, parcere subjectis, give a coup de gr=ace, put out of one's misery, raise pity, excite pity, touch, soften, melt, melt the heart, propitiate, disarm, ask for mercy, supplicate, cry for quarter, beg one's life, kneel, deprecate.Liquefaction
N liquefaction, liquescence, liquescency, melting, colliquation, colliquefaction, thaw, liquation, deliquation, deliquescence, lixiviation, dissolution, solution, apozem, lixivium, infusion, flux, solvent, menstruum, alkahest, liquefied, liquescent, liquefiable, deliquescent, soluble, colliquative.Heat
VB be hot, glow, flush, sweat, swelter, bask, smoke, reek, stew, simmer, seethe, boil, burn, blister, broil, blaze, flame, smolder, parch, fume, pant, heat, recalesce, thaw, give.Calefaction
VB heat, warm, chafe, stive, foment, make hot, sun oneself, sunbathe, go up in flames, burn to the ground (flame), fire, set fire to, set on fire, kindle, enkindle, light, ignite, strike a light, apply the match to, apply the torch to, rekindle, relume, fan the flame, add fuel to the flame, poke the fire, stir the fire, blow the fire, make a bonfire of, melt, thaw, fuse, liquefy, burn, inflame, roast, toast, fry, grill, singe, parch, bake, torrefy, scorch, brand, cauterize, sear, burn in, corrode, char, calcine, incinerate, smelt, scorify, reduce to ashes, burn to a cinder, commit to the flames, consign to the flames, boil, digest, stew, cook, seethe, scald, parboil, simmer, do to rags, take fire, catch fire, blaze.For further exploring for "thaw" in Webster Dictionary Online
