Added 10 October 2026
thaw
/θɔː/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about thaw at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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The process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid.
the power failure caused a refrigerator melt that was a disaster
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Warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt.
they welcomed the spring thaw
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A relaxation or slackening of tensions or reserve; becoming less hostile.
the thaw between the United States and Russia has led to increased cooperation in world affairs
verb
Origin
The verb is derived from Middle English thawen, thowen (“to melt (ice, snow, etc.), thaw”), from Old English þāwian, *þāwan (“to thaw”), from Proto-West Germanic *þauwjan (“to melt, thaw; to digest; to dissolve”), from Proto-Germanic *þawjaną (“to thaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂- (“to melt; to flow, stream”). The noun is derived from Late Middle English thawe, thowe (“melting of ice, snow, etc., thawing”), from thawen, thowen (verb) (see above). cognates * Dutch dooien (“to thaw”) * German tauen (“to thaw”) * German Low German deien (“to thaw”) * Icelandic þeyja (“to thaw”) * Saterland Frisian daie, dauje (“to thaw”) * Swedish töa (“to thaw”) * West Frisian teie (“to thaw”)
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)