frost

English

/fɹɒst/, /fɹɔst/, /fɹɑst/

noun
Definitions
  • A cover of minute ice crystals on objects that are exposed to the air. Frost is formed by the same process as dew, except that the temperature of the frosted object is below freezing.
  • The cold weather that causes these ice crystals to form.
  • (figurative) Coldness or insensibility; severity or rigidity of character.
  • (obsolete) The act of freezing; the congelation of water or other liquid.
  • A shade of white, like that of frost.
  • (slang) A disappointment; a cheat.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English frost inherited from Old English forst (frost) inherited from Proto-Germanic *frustaz (cold, frost) derived from Proto-Indo-European *prews- (freeze, frost, burn, burn up).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*prews-

Gloss

freeze, frost, burn, burn up

Concept
Semantic Field

The physical world

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

霜

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms