frost´less

frost «frst, frost», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a freezing condition; very cold weather; temperature below the point at which water freezes: »

Frost came early last winter. Frosts occur most readily in low places, especially if there is no outlet (Thomas A. Blair).

2. the act or process of becoming frozen: »

If the secret ministry of frost Shall hang them in silent icicles (Samuel Taylor Coleridge).

3. moisture frozen on or in a surface; feathery crystals of ice formed when water vapor in the air condenses at a temperature below freezing; white frost; hoarfrost: »

frost on windows. On cold fall mornings, there was frost on the grass. The only difference between dew and frost is that the frost occurs at sub-freezing temperatures (Neuberger and Stephens).

4. Figurative. coldness of manner or feeling; frigidity: »

One of those moments of intense feeling when the frost of the Scottish people melts like a snow wreath (Scott).

5. Slang. a failure; flop: »

One small meeting can be a frost and another a crashing success (New Yorker).

6. Informal, Figurative. a falling off of, or coolness in, friendship; estrangement: »

A slight frost has since settled over Belgrade's friendship with Ankara (New York Times).

–v.t.

1. to cover with frost: »

Delicate traceries frosted the windowpanes.

2. to cover with anything that suggests frost: »

The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and beaten whites of eggs.

3. to give a frostlike surface to (glass or metal).

4. to kill or injure by frost or freezing: »

The drop in temperature frosted the tomato plants.

–v.i.

to freeze; become covered with frost.

╂[Old English forst. See related etym. at feze.]

–frost´less, adjective.

–frost´like´, adjective.