freeze

freezeverb

To freeze is to become very cold and hard, or to stop moving or changing.

1. turn to icebecome hard or turn into ice because it is very cold, or make something do this

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The lake froze during the night.
   • Our pipes froze last winter.
   • The cold wind froze the ground. V + obj

   Collocations

   noun + verb water freezes, a lake freezes, pipes freeze

   adverb + verb freeze solid, freeze over

   Antonyms melt; thaw

2. foodkeep food at a very low temperature so that it stays good to eat for a long time

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • You can freeze the soup and eat it next week. V + obj
   • Freeze the bread if you will not use it soon. V + obj
   • Does this cake freeze well?

   Collocations

   verb + noun freeze meat, freeze bread, freeze food

   verb + adverb freeze well

   Antonyms defrost; thaw

3. feel coldbe or feel very cold

   Usually in the continuous form or with will, to say that someone is very cold.

   intransitive [I]

   • Can you close the window? I'm freezing!
   • We froze while we waited for the bus.
   • You'll freeze if you go out without a coat.

4. stop movingsuddenly stop moving and stay very still, because you are afraid or surprised

   intransitive [I]

   • She froze when she heard a noise downstairs.
   • "Freeze! Nobody move!"
   • He froze for a moment, then ran.

   Collocations

   phrase freeze with fear, freeze in shock

5. computersuddenly stop working so that nothing on the screen moves

   intransitive [I] computing

   • My computer froze again, and I lost my work.
   • The screen froze in the middle of the call.

   Collocations

   noun + verb a computer freezes, the screen freezes, an app freezes

   Synonyms crash; hang

6. prices or moneystop prices or pay from changing, or stop money in a bank account from being used

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The company froze wages for a year. V + obj
   • His bank account was frozen by the police. V + obj (passive)
   • The city plans to freeze bus fares. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun freeze prices, freeze wages, freeze pay, freeze an account