2a period of frost or very cold weather:the big freeze surprised the weathermen
ზმნა
Universal
1(with reference to a liquid) turn or be turned into ice or another solid as a result of extreme cold: [no object]:in the winter the milk froze [with object]:frost freezes water that has seeped into joints
become or cause to become blocked, covered, or rigid with ice: [no object]:the pipes had frozen [with complement]:the ground was frozen hard
be so cold that one feels near death (often used hyperbolically):you’ll freeze to death standing there
[with object] deprive (a part of the body) of feeling, especially by the application of a chilled anaesthetic substance.
2 [with object] store (something) at a very low temperature in order to preserve it:the cake can be frozen
[no object, with complement] (of food) be able to be preserved at a very low temperature:this soup freezes well
3 [no object] become suddenly motionless or paralysed with fear or shock:she froze in horror
stop moving when ordered:she came out with a revolver and told the boys to freeze
4 [with object] hold (something) at a fixed level or in a fixed state for a period of time:new spending on defence was to be frozen
prevent (assets) from being used for a period of time:the charity’s bank account has been frozen
stop (a moving image) at a particular frame when filming or viewing:the camera will set fast shutter speeds to freeze the action
[no object] (of a computer screen) become temporarily locked because of system problems.
5 [with object] stare coldly at (someone); treat coldly:she would freeze him with a look when he tried to talk to her
freeze one's blood
(or one's blood freezes)
fill (or be filled) with a sudden feeling of great fear or horror:that sound froze my blood
freeze someone out
informal behave in a hostile or obstructive way so as to exclude someone:during a banquet, she completely froze out her husband
