different between freezing vs thawing

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?f?i?z.??/
• Rhymes: -i?z??

Adjective

freezing (comparative more freezing, superlative most freezing)

1. (literally) Suffering or causing frost
2. (by extension, chiefly hyperbolic) Very cold
3. (with above or below) Zero °C, the freezing point of water.

Synonyms

• (literally): frosty, frigorific
• (very cold): ice-cold, icy

Derived terms

• subfreezing

Translations

Noun

freezing (countable and uncountable, plural freezings)

1. (uncountable, physics, chemistry) The change in state of a substance from liquid to solid by cooling to a critically low temperature.
2. (countable, medicine) The action of numbing with anesthetics.

Synonyms

• frost

Related terms

• freeze-dry
• freezer

Translations

Verb

freezing

1. present participle of freeze

Derived terms

• freezing point

English

Etymology

thaw +? -ing

Verb

thawing

1. present participle of thaw

Noun

thawing (plural thawings)

1. The process by which something thaws.
   • 1829, James Macauley, The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New York

     Hence, there is a succession of thawings and freezings. The former expand, and endeavour to restore the surface of the ground to its natural condition, while the latter contract and harden it.