ENGLISH
REFERENCE

freezing

n.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈfɹizɪŋ// UK //fɹˈiːzɪŋ// freez·ing

n. extremely cold. You use this to describe weather, water, or how your body feels when you are very chilled.

n. at or below the temperature at which water turns to ice; colloquially used to describe extreme coldness in weather or physical sensation.


SIMPLE

The water is freezing so do not jump in.

CONTEXTUAL

The hikers were caught in a freezing rainstorm and had to find shelter immediately to avoid hypothermia.

COMPLEX

Despite the freezing temperatures outside, the insulation in the cabin kept the interior remarkably warm throughout the night.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

By surface analysis, freeze + -ing.

Usage

Commonly used as a gradable adjective in casual speech, though technically it refers to a specific temperature point.

Pitfall

It is very freezing todayIt is absolutely freezing todayFreezing is an extreme adjective; it is paired with 'absolutely' or 'completely' rather than 'very'.

Idioms1 entry

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