thaw
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a period of warmer weather when ice and snow melt.
a period of weather warm enough to melt ice and snow, or the process of melting itself.
Simple“The spring thaw caused the river levels to rise quickly.”
In context“The sudden thaw led to widespread flooding across the valley as the mountain snowpack melted rapidly.”
SynonymssnowmeltdefrostingAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a time when two countries or groups become more friendly after a period of tension.
an improvement in relations between two countries or groups, characterized by a reduction in tension or the relaxation of restrictions.
Simple“The meeting marked a major thaw in relations between the two nations.”
In context“Historians often point to the cultural exchange program as the beginning of the diplomatic thaw between the rival superpowers.”
SynonymsrapprochementdetenteAntonymsestrangement
From Middle English thowen, thawen, from Old English þawian, þāwan (“to thaw”), from Proto-West Germanic þauwjan, from Proto-Germanic þawjaną (“to thaw”), from Proto-Indo-European teh₂- (“to melt”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian daie, dauje (“to thaw”), West Frisian teie (“to thaw”), Dutch dooien (“to thaw”), German Low German deien (“to thaw”), German tauen (“to thaw”), Swedish töa (“to thaw”), Icelandic þeyja (“to thaw”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.