thawing

thaw  (thô)

v. thawed, thaw·ing, thaws

v.intr.

1. To change from a frozen solid to a liquid by gradual warming.

2. To lose stiffness, numbness, or impermeability by being warmed: left the frozen turkey out until it thawed; thawed out by sitting next to the stove.

3. To become warm enough for snow and ice to melt.

4. To become less formal, aloof, or reserved.

v.tr.

To cause to thaw.

n.

1. The process of thawing.

2. A period of warm weather during which ice and snow melt.

3. A relaxation of reserve, restraints, or tensions.

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[Middle English thawen, from Old English thawian.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	thawing - the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid; "the power failure caused a refrigerator melt that was a disaster"; "the thawing of a frozen turkey takes several hours" melt, melting, thaw heating, warming - the process of becoming warmer; a rising temperature phase change, phase transition, physical change, state change - a change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical composition
	2.	thawing - warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt; "they welcomed the spring thaw" thaw, warming atmospheric condition, weather, weather condition, conditions - the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation; "they were hoping for good weather"; "every day we have weather conditions and yesterday was no exception"; "the conditions were too rainy for playing in the snow"