freeze over
phrasal verb.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.
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.
often used intransitively when referring to lakes or ponds.
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.
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.
Last updated April 24, 2026