frost

[frawst, frost] /frɔst, frɒst/
noun
1.
a degree or state of coldness sufficient to cause the freezing of water.
2.
Also called hoarfrost. a covering of minute ice needles, formed from the atmosphere at night upon the ground and exposed objects when they have cooled by radiation below the dew point, and when the dew point is below the freezing point.
3.
the act or process of freezing.
4.
coldness of manner or temperament:
We noticed a definite frost in his greeting.
5.
Informal. a coolness between persons.
6.
Informal. something that meets with lack of enthusiasm, as a theatrical performance or party; failure; flop.
7.
a milk shake, frappe, or similar drink:
a chocolate frost.
verb (used with object)
8.
to cover with frost.
9.
to give a frostlike surface to (glass, metal, etc.).
10.
to ice (a cake, cookies, etc.).
11.
to bleach selected strands of (a person's hair) in order to create highlights.
12.
to kill or injure by frost:
a freezing rain that badly frosted the tomato plants.
13.
to make angry:
I was frosted by his critical comment.
verb (used without object)
14.
to become covered with frost or freeze (often followed by up or over):
The windshield has frosted over.
15.
(of varnish, paint, etc.) to dry with a film resembling frost.
Idioms
16.
degree of frost, British. the degree of temperature Fahrenheit below the freezing point:
10 degrees of frost is equivalent to 22°F.
Origin
before 900; Middle English, Old English frost, forst; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German, Old Norse frost; akin to freeze
Related forms
frostless, adjective
frostlike, adjective
unfrost, verb (used with object)
Synonyms
4. aloofness, coolness, distance, remoteness.

Frost

[frawst, frost] /frɔst, frɒst/
noun
1.
Robert (Lee) 1874–1963, U.S. poet.
Examples from the web for frost
  • He used his frost giant minions to cause the avalanche to crush the expedition.
  • The tree itself is sensitive to frost, as well as intense heat and drought.
  • Bletilla species are generally hardy, though some need protection from severe frost.
  • They trample the developing plants and allow frost to penetrate the rhizomes.
  • Snow is rare but there are a few periods of frost each winter.
British Dictionary definitions for frost

frost

/frɒst/
noun
1.
a white deposit of ice particles, esp one formed on objects out of doors at night See also hoarfrost
2.
an atmospheric temperature of below freezing point, characterized by the production of this deposit
3.
degrees below freezing point: eight degrees of frost indicates a temperature of either –8°C or 24°F
4.
(informal) something given a cold reception; failure
5.
(informal) coolness of manner
6.
the act of freezing
verb
7.
to cover or be covered with frost
8.
(transitive) to give a frostlike appearance to (glass, etc), as by means of a fine-grained surface
9.
(transitive) (mainly US & Canadian) to decorate (cakes, etc) with icing or frosting
10.
(transitive) to kill or damage (crops, etc) with frost
Derived Forms
frostlike, adjective
Word Origin
Old English frost; related to Old Norse, Old Saxon, Old High German frost; see freeze

Frost

/frɒst/
noun
1.
Sir David (Paradine). born 1939, British television presenter and executive, noted esp for political interviews
2.
Robert (Lee). 1874–1963, US poet, noted for his lyrical verse on country life in New England. His books include A Boy's Will (1913), North of Boston (1914), and New Hampshire (1923)
Word Origin and History for frost
n.

Old English forst, frost "a freezing, becoming frozen, extreme cold," from Proto-Germanic *frusta- (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Old High German frost, Middle Dutch and Dutch vorst), related to freosan "to freeze," from PIE *preus- "to freeze; burn" (see freeze (v.)). Both forms of the word were common in English till late 15c.; the triumph of frost may be due to its similarity to the forms in other Germanic languages.

v.

1630s, from frost (n.). Related: Frosted; frosting.

frost in Medicine

frost (frôst)
n.
A deposit of minute ice crystals formed when water vapor condenses at a temperature below freezing.

frost in Science
frost
  (frôst)   
A deposit of tiny, white ice crystals on a surface. Frost forms through sublimation, when water vapor in the air condenses at a temperature below freezing. It gets its white color from tiny air bubbles trapped in the ice crystals. See more at dew point.
Slang definitions & phrases for frost

frost

noun
  1. A total failure; something not well received: My idea was a dismal frost (1885+)
  2. Social hauteur; chill; cold shoulder: He smiled at her and got frost (1635+)
verb
  1. : For nifty Mame has frosted me complete (1896+)
  2. To anger; irritate: That tone of voice really frosts me (1940s+)

frost in the Bible

(Heb. kerah, from its smoothness) Job 37:10 (R.V., "ice"); Gen. 31:40; Jer. 36:30; rendered "ice" in Job 6:16, 38:29; and "crystal" in Ezek. 1:22. "At the present day frost is entirely unknown in the lower portions of the valley of the Jordan, but slight frosts are sometimes felt on the sea-coast and near Lebanon." Throughout Western Asia cold frosty nights are frequently succeeded by warm days. "Hoar frost" (Heb. kephor, so called from its covering the ground) is mentioned in Ex. 16:14; Job 38:29; Ps. 147:16. In Ps. 78:47 the word rendered "frost" (R.V. marg., "great hail-stones"), _hanamal_, occurs only there. It is rendered by Gesenius, the Hebrew lexicographer, "ant," and so also by others, but the usual interpretation derived from the ancient versions may be maintained.