freezing
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.extremely cold, often used when you feel very uncomfortable in the winter.
adj.denoting a temperature that is extremely low or uncomfortable. Often used hyperbolically in informal contexts.
Simple“Put on your thick coat because it is freezing outside today.”
In context“The hikers were freezing by the time they reached the summit, as the wind chill had dropped the temperature far below what they expected.”
PitfallIt is very freezing today. It is absolutely freezing today.Freezing is an extreme adjective; use 'absolutely' or 'completely' instead of 'very'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.at the temperature where water turns into ice.
adj.relating to the temperature at which a liquid, especially water, turns into a solid.
Simple“The pipes might burst if the weather stays at freezing temperatures all week.”
In context“The experiment required the solution to be maintained at a constant freezing point to observe the crystal formation.”
Synonymsgelid - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the process of a liquid becoming a solid because of the cold.
n.the physical transition of a substance from a liquid state to a solid state due to the removal of heat.
Simple“The freezing of the lake happens slowly once the air temperature drops.”
In context“Rapid freezing is essential in the food industry to prevent large ice crystals from damaging the texture of the produce.”
SynonymssolidificationAntonymsmeltingthawing - 04 C1 Advanced
n.the use of medicine to make a part of your body lose feeling so you do not feel pain.
n.the administration of a local anaesthetic to induce a loss of sensation in a specific area of the body.
Simple“The dentist gave me some freezing before he started working on my tooth.”
In context“The surgeon waited for the freezing to take full effect before beginning the minor procedure on the patient's hand.”
Synonyms
By surface analysis, freeze + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.