vries
B1neutral (common in everyday, business, technical and academic contexts)
Definition
Meaning
to become hard and turn to ice because of extreme cold
to become very cold; to stop moving or functioning; to preserve food by storing at a very low temperature; to officially fix something (like prices or wages) at a particular level; to stop a video or film on a single frame
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb has strong links to temperature (literal), but its figurative extensions to movement, economics, and technology are equally frequent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling of the past participle: UK: 'frozen', US: also 'frozen' (no spelling difference). In culinary contexts, 'freeze' is used slightly more in US English for preserving food. 'Brain freeze' (from cold drinks) is a more common US term.
Connotations
UK: In finance, 'freeze' can have strong negative connotations (e.g., pension freeze). US: More neutral in tech contexts (e.g., 'my computer froze').
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US English due to common use in tech ('screen freeze') and business ('hiring freeze').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SV (The lake freezes.)SV+A (It freezes solid.)SVO (The cold froze the pipes.)SVO+A (She froze the berries for winter.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “freeze someone out (exclude)”
- “freeze up (become too nervous to act)”
- “when hell freezes over (never)”
- “freeze in one's tracks (stop suddenly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board decided to freeze all new hires until Q4.
Academic
Scientists freeze tissue samples for cryogenic preservation.
Everyday
Don't forget to freeze the leftover soup.
Technical
The application will freeze if the buffer overflows.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The pond might freeze tonight.
- The government froze benefit payments.
American English
- My computer keeps freezing.
- They decided to freeze tuition costs.
adjective
British English
- We're having a freeze-dried coffee.
- He was caught in the freeze frame.
American English
- She gave him a freeze-out look.
- Watch for freeze warnings on the road.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Water freezes at zero degrees Celsius.
- I will freeze the pizza for later.
- The lake freezes every winter, so we can skate on it.
- If you don't wear a coat, you'll freeze!
- The company imposed a freeze on all non-essential spending to improve cash flow.
- The video froze at the most exciting moment.
- Diplomatic relations have effectively frozen since the sanctions were imposed.
- The artist uses freeze-frame techniques to create a sense of suspended narrative.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'EE' in 'freeze' as two icicles hanging down.
Conceptual Metaphor
LACK OF MOVEMENT/CHANGE IS COLD (e.g., a frozen stare, frozen wages, frozen in fear).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'заморозить' (to freeze food) and 'замерзнуть' (to feel cold) – English 'freeze' covers both. 'Freeze' as 'stop' has no direct Russian equivalent in many contexts (e.g., 'The video froze').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'freezed' (correct: 'froze'). Confusing 'freeze' with 'frieze' (a decorative band). Using 'freeze' for 'cool' (cool = lower temperature, freeze = turn to ice).
Practice
Quiz
In a financial context, what does 'freeze' most likely mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Freeze' is the process of becoming ice; 'melt' is the opposite process of turning from ice into liquid.
Yes, 'froze' is the simple past. The past participle is 'frozen'. 'Freezed' is incorrect.
Yes, figuratively: 'He froze with fear' (stopped moving). Literally: 'They nearly froze in the snowstorm' (became very cold).
A meteorological term for a freeze where temperatures are low enough and duration long enough to cause severe damage to plants and pipes.