thawn

Verb

thaw (third-person singular simple present thaws, present participle thawing, simple past thawed, past participle thawed or (rare, chiefly poetic or nonstandard) thawn)

1. (transitive) To gradually cause (something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow) to melt or soften by raising the temperature.
   • Sette the potte to the fyre to thawe the water: […]1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan...
2. (transitive) To gradually cause (someone or something that is very cold) to warm up.
   • [M]y very lippes might freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roofe of my mouth, my heart in my belly, ere I ſhould come by a fire to thavv me, […]c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
3. (figuratively, transitive) To cause (something inactive) to become active; also, to cause (something unfeeling) to have feelings.
   • [N]ovv my loue is thavv'd, / VVhich like a vvaxen Image 'gainſt a fire / Beares no impreſſion of the thing it vvas.c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
4. (figuratively, transitive) To cause (someone or their feelings that are reserved or unfriendly) to become friendly or gentle.
5. (archaic, figuratively, rare, transitive) To cause (something rigid) to become limp.
   • "Speak aloud, my lord," said Elizabeth, "and at farther distance, so please you—your breath thaws our ruff. What have you to ask of us?"1821 January 8, [Walter Scott], chapter XV, in Kenilworth; a Romance. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, […]; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC...
6. (intransitive) Of something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow: to gradually melt or soften as a result of the temperature being raised.
   • the ice thaws

   Synonyms:

   de-ice

See all 18 meanings of thaw