frost

Etymology

From Middle English frost, from Old English frost (“frost”), from Proto-Germanic *frustaz (“frost”), from Proto-Indo-European *prews- (“to freeze; frost”). Cognate with West Frisian froast (“frost”), Dutch vorst (“frost”), German Frost (“frost”), Swedish frost (“frost”), Icelandic frost (“frost”), Latin pruīna (“hoarfrost, frost, rime, snow”). Related to freeze.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /fɹɒst/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /fɹɔst/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /fɹɑst/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒst, -ɔːst

Noun

frost (countable and uncountable, plural frosts)

1. A cover of minute ice crystals on objects that are exposed to the air. Frost is formed by the same process as dew, except that the temperature of the frosted object is below freezing.
   • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 47.

     It is more probable, in almost every country of Europe, that there will be frost sometime in January, than that the weather will continue open throughout that whole month;

2. The cold weather that causes these ice crystals to form.
3. (figuratively) Coldness or insensibility; severity or rigidity of character.
   • Sir Walter Scott

     It was one of those moments of intense feeling when the frost of the Scottish people melts like a snow-wreath.

4. (obsolete) The act of freezing; the congelation of water or other liquid.

Verb

frost (third-person singular simple present frosts, present participle frosting, simple past and past participle frosted)

1. To get covered with frost.
2. To coat something (e.g. a cake) with icing to resemble frost.
3. To anger or annoy.

   I think the boss's decision frosted him, a bit.

Anagrams

• forts, frots

Etymology

From Old Norse frost.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /frɔst/, [fʁ̥ʌsd̥]

Noun

frost c (singular definite frosten, not used in plural form)

1. frost

References

• “frost” in Den Danske Ordbog

Etymology

From Old Norse frost.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /frɔst/
• Rhymes: -ɔst

Noun

frost n (genitive singular frosts, nominative plural frost)

1. frost

See also

• kuldi

Etymology

From Old Norse frost n.

Noun

frost m (definite singular frosten)

1. frost

References

• “frost” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Etymology

From Old Norse frost n

Noun

frost m (definite singular frosten)

1. frost

References

• “frost” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Alternative forms

• forst

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *frustą, *frustaz, akin to Old High German frost, Old Norse frost.

Noun

frost m

1. frost

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *frustą, *frustaz, akin to Old English frost, Old Norse frost.

Noun

frost m

1. frost

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *frustą, *frustaz, akin to Old English frost, Old High German frost.

Noun

frost n

1. frost

References

• frost in Geir T. Zoëga (1910) A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic, Oxford: Clarendon Press

Etymology

From Old Norse frost, from Proto-Germanic *frustą, *frustaz.

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

Noun

frost c

1. frost