Definition

1. Noun:

   • A covering of tiny ice crystals on a surface: A white, frozen deposit that forms on surfaces when the temperature drops below freezing, especially outdoors.
   • Weather cold enough to freeze: A state or period of weather where the temperature is at or below the freezing point of water.
   • A cold, unfriendly, or indifferent manner: A metaphorical use to describe a lack of warmth in behavior or atmosphere.

2. Verb:

   • To cover with frost: To become covered with or as if with a layer of ice crystals.
   • To damage or kill with frost: To injure or destroy plants or crops by exposing them to freezing temperatures.
   • To give a frost-like appearance: To cover something with a fine, granular, or speckled layer, resembling frost.
   • To decorate with icing: To cover a cake or pastry with a layer of sugar icing.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The car windows were covered with a thick layer of frost this morning.
  • The early frost damaged the tomato plants.
  • There was a distinct frost in his voice when he spoke.

• Verb:

  • The cold night air frosted the grass.
  • Be careful, the sudden cold snap could frost the blossoms.
  • She frosted the glass to make it opaque.
  • He frosted the birthday cake with vanilla buttercream.

Advanced Usage

• "Jack Frost": A personification of frost or cold weather, often depicted as a sprite who paints frost patterns.

  • Jack Frost nipped at our noses during the walk.

• "frost over/up": To become covered with frost.

  • The windshield frosted over overnight.

Variants and Related Words

• Frosty (adj): Very cold; covered with frost; unfriendly in manner.

  • a frosty morning; a frosty reception

• Frosting (n): A sweet, creamy mixture used to coat or decorate cakes; the act of applying such a mixture. (Also called "icing").

  • chocolate frosting; She is good at frosting cupcakes.

• Frostbite (n): Injury to body tissues caused by exposure to extreme cold.

  • He suffered from frostbite on his fingers.

Synonyms

• Noun (ice crystals): Hoarfrost, rime.
• Noun (cold weather): Freeze, chill.
• Verb (to cover): Ice over, crystallize.
• Verb (to decorate): Ice, glaze.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Frost over: To become completely covered with a layer of frost.

  • The pond frosted over in December.

• Frost up: Similar to "frost over," often used for surfaces like windows.

  • My glasses frost up when I come inside from the cold.

Related Idioms

• "A frosty reception": A very cool, unfriendly, or unwelcoming greeting.

  • Their new proposal got a frosty reception from the board.

• "To frost someone's cookies" (US, informal): To annoy or irritate someone greatly.

  • His constant complaining really frosts my cookies.

Noun

1. United States poet famous for his lyrical poems on country life in New England (1874-1963)
2. the formation of frost or ice on a surface
3. weather cold enough to cause freezing
4. ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

Verb

1. damage by frost
   • The icy precipitation frosted the flowers and they turned brown
2. cover with frost
   • ice crystals frosted the glass
3. provide with a rough or speckled surface or appearance
   • frost the glass
   • she frosts her hair
4. decorate with frosting
   • frost a cake