thaw

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To gradually melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften from frozen.
2. (impersonal, intransitive) To become sufficiently warm to melt ice and snow, said in reference to the weather.
3. (figuratively, intransitive) To grow gentle or genial.
4. (transitive) To gradually cause frozen things (such as earth, snow, ice) to melt, soften, or dissolve.

Noun

1. The melting of ice, snow, or other frozen or congealed matter; the transformation of ice or the like into the state of a fluid; liquefaction by heat of anything congealed by frost
2. a period of weather warm enough to melt that which is frozen
3. (figuratively) A period of relaxation, of reduced reserve, tension, or hostility or of increased friendliness or understanding.

Synonyms

melt

defrost

dissolve

melting

thawing

unfreeze

liquefy

fuse

unthaw

warming

liquify

digest

flux

dethaw

fuze

caramelize

warm up

smelt

caramelise

melt down

moderation

pine

relaxation

rope

🪢

run

scuff

smelting

softened

stomach

defreeze

rainy weather

thaw out

warm weather

colliquation

liquate

unfreezing

be soothed

sweal

go to water

cease to be angry

consume away

ablate

mild weather

ablation

confess

debacle

defrosted

defrosting

détente

disperse

Translations

dégel

dégeler

fondre

Tauwetter

ontdooien

disgelo

tauen

fondere

dooien

auftauen

sgelare

schmelzen

dooi

scongelare

wegsmelten

Pronounced as (IPA)

/θɔː/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: thowen

Inherited from Old English: þāwian

In summary

From Middle English thowen, thawen, from Old English þawian, *þāwan (“to thaw”), from Proto-West Germanic *þauwjan, from Proto-Germanic *þawjaną (“to thaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂- (“to melt”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian daie, dauje (“to thaw”), West Frisian teie (“to thaw”), Dutch dooien (“to thaw”), German Low German deien (“to thaw”), German tauen (“to thaw”), Swedish töa (“to thaw”), Icelandic þeyja (“to thaw”).