ENGLISH
REFERENCE

frosty

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfɹɔsti// UK //fɹˈɒsti// frosty

adj. very cold with a thin layer of white ice on the ground. It can also describe a person who is unfriendly or cold in their behavior.

adj. covered with a thin layer of ice crystals; metaphorically used to describe a manner that is unfriendly, formal, or distant.


SIMPLE

The ground was frosty after the cold night.

CONTEXTUAL

Her frosty greeting at the office made it clear she was still upset about the meeting.

COMPLEX

Diplomats noted the frosty exchange between the two leaders, signalling that the trade negotiations had reached an impasse despite weeks of preparatory talks.

Synonyms
Origin

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”).

Idioms1 entry

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