Phrasal verb
freeze over
Definition
phrasal verb. to become completely covered with a layer of ice.
phrasal verb. to become entirely coated or blocked with ice; typically used of bodies of water or mechanical systems.
Examples
“The lake usually freezes over in January.”
“The pipes froze over during the winter storm, leaving the house without running water.”
“By mid-winter, the entire bay had frozen over, allowing local residents to walk across the thick ice to the neighboring island.”
Examples
simple
“The lake usually freezes over in January.”
contextual
“The pipes froze over during the winter storm, leaving the house without running water.”
complex
“By mid-winter, the entire bay had frozen over, allowing local residents to walk across the thick ice to the neighboring island.”
Usage
often used intransitively when referring to lakes or ponds.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'freeze' (the general process) and 'freeze up' (often used for machinery or computers stopping); 'freeze over' specifically implies a surface layer of ice.
Pitfall
The lake was frozen across.
The lake was frozen over.
the particle 'over' is the standard way to describe a surface being covered by ice.
Phrasal verb
Particles
over
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
freeze + over
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/freeze-over