frosty
- 01 B1 Intermediate
very cold, with a thin layer of white ice covering the ground or windows.
characterised by the presence of frost or extremely low temperatures sufficient to freeze surface moisture.
Simple“We woke up to a frosty morning with ice covering the car windshield.”
In context“The frosty air bit at their cheeks as they trudged through the fields, where every blade of grass was encased in a delicate crystalline sheath.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
acting in a way that is not friendly or welcoming.
exhibiting an aloof, chilling, or inhospitable manner in social interaction.
Simple“The atmosphere in the room was frosty after their big argument.”
In context“The manager gave a frosty reception to the new proposal, barely looking up from her papers as the team presented their findings.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
having a layer of frost on the surface.
covered with or containing frost; specifically referring to the physical accumulation of ice crystals.
Simple“The frosty branches of the trees looked beautiful in the winter sunlight.”
In context“He reached for the frosty beer mug, which had been kept in the freezer until the glass was completely opaque with ice.”
From Middle English frosty, forsty, from Old English forstiġ, fyrstiġ (“frosty”), from Proto-West Germanic frostag, frustīg, By surface analysis, frost + -y. Cognates Cognate with West Frisian froastich (“frosty”), Dutch vorstig (“frosty”), German Low German fröstig (“frosty”), German frostig (“frosty”), Swedish frostig (“frosty”). Compare also Saterland Frisian froasterch (“frosty”), German Low German frösterg (“frosty”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.