Definition

1. Noun:

   • A state of temporary inactivity, suspension, or delay: A condition where progress or activity is halted, often intentionally, for a period of time.
   • A freezer for long-term storage: A type of freezer, typically operating at very low temperatures, designed to preserve food or other items for extended periods.

2. Verb:

   • To store in a deep freeze: To place something, typically food, into a deep freeze (freezer) for preservation.

Usage Examples

• Noun (inactivity):
  • The project was put in a deep freeze due to budget cuts.
  • After the scandal, diplomatic relations entered a deep freeze.
• Noun (appliance):
  • We keep the frozen vegetables in the deep freeze in the garage.
• Verb:
  • You should deep-freeze the berries while they are fresh.
  • The meat was deep-frozen immediately after processing.

Advanced Usage

• "to put/place something in (the) deep freeze": To deliberately suspend or halt an activity, plan, or relationship.
  • The development of the new model has been placed in the deep freeze indefinitely.
• "to be in (the) deep freeze": To be in a state of suspension or inactivity.
  • Negotiations have been in the deep freeze for months.

Variants and Related Words

• Deep-freeze (noun, hyphenated): An alternative spelling for the appliance.
• Deep-freezer (noun): Another term for a deep freeze appliance.
• Freeze (noun/verb): A more general term for stopping activity or lowering temperature. "Deep freeze" implies a more severe or prolonged state.

Synonyms

• Noun (inactivity): Suspension, hiatus, moratorium, standstill, cold storage.
• Noun (appliance): Freezer, deep-freezer.
• Verb: Freeze, quick-freeze, ice.

Related Phrases

• Cold storage: A very close synonym for the "inactivity" sense.
  • The proposal has been in cold storage for years.

Noun

1. temporary inactivity or suspension
   • the legislation has now been revived after ten years in the deep freeze

Verb

1. store in a deep-freeze, as for conservation
   • deep-freeze the food