frozen

[froh-zuhn]

verb

1. past participle of freeze.

adjective

1. congealed by cold; turned into ice.

2. covered with ice, as a stream.

3. frigid; very cold.

4. injured or killed by frost or cold.

5. obstructed by ice, as pipes.

6. chilly or cold in manner; unfeeling.

   a frozen stare.

7. rigid; immobilized.

   The child was frozen with fear.

8. quick-frozen.

   frozen foods.

9. (of food) chilled or refrigerated.

10. (especially of a drink) mixed with ice and frappéed in an electric blender.

11. in a form that is not readily convertible into cash; not liquid.

    frozen assets.

12. not permitted to be changed or incapable of being altered; fixed.

    frozen rents; frozen salaries.

13. Canasta.,  (of the discard pile) unable to be picked up by a player unless the player's hand contains a natural pair to match the top card of the pile.

frozen

/ ˈfrəʊzən /

verb

1. the past participle of freeze

adjective

1. turned into or covered with ice

2. obstructed or blocked by ice

3. killed, injured, or stiffened by extreme cold

4. (of a region or climate) icy or snowy

5. (of food) preserved by a freezing process

6. 1. (of prices, wages, etc) arbitrarily pegged at a certain level

   2. (of business assets) not convertible into cash, as by government direction or business conditions

7. frigid, unfeeling, or disdainful in manner

8. motionless or unyielding

   he was frozen with horror

Other Word Forms

• frozenness noun
• frozenly adverb
• prefrozen adjective
• unfrozen adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of frozen¹

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

Example Sentences

Calling all Trader Joe’s fans, you may want to double-check your freezer — especially if you recently stocked up on the brand’s frozen goodies.

From Salon

I also got a lump in my throat when they went down into the basement where the old giant presses sat frozen.

From Los Angeles Times

Since 2002, satellites have measured changes in the Earth’s gravity field to track shifts in water, both frozen and liquid.

From Los Angeles Times

It was snowing, final seconds, the Rams were down by six but driving, 13 yards from the end zone, a winter wonderland ... then a frozen nightmare.

From Los Angeles Times

The FDA said multiple brands of frozen shrimp may be contaminated with cesium-137, a radioactive isotope.

From Salon

Related Words

• chilled 
• frigid 
• ice-cold 
• iced 
• icy