Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Injured by freezing or partial freezing: Describes a part of a living body (like skin or tissue) that has been damaged due to exposure to extreme cold. The injury results from the formation of ice crystals in the cells and the restriction of blood flow.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The climber had to be rescued after his frostbitten toes turned black and numb.
  • She wore special boots to prevent her feet from becoming frostbitten in the Arctic cold.
  • After hours in the blizzard, his ears were severely frostbitten.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in medical contexts to describe the severity of cold injury (e.g., first-degree, second-degree frostbite). "Frostbitten" describes the state resulting from "frostbite."
• It can be used figuratively to describe something that appears stiff, lifeless, or damaged by cold, though this is less common.
  • The once vibrant garden lay frostbitten and silent under the winter sky.

Variants and Related Words

• Frostbite (n): The medical condition or the process of injury caused by freezing.
  • He suffered from frostbite on his fingers.
• Frost-nipped (adj): A milder, superficial form of cold injury, often a precursor to frostbite.

Synonyms

• Frozen
• Nipped (by frost)
• Cold-injured

Antonyms

• Thawed
• Warm
• Unharmed

Related Phrases

• To suffer frostbite: The action that leads to being frostbitten.
  • Several soldiers suffered frostbite during the winter campaign.
• At risk of frostbite: Describing a vulnerable state.
  • Exposed skin is at risk of frostbite in these temperatures.

Adjective

1. injured by freezing or partial freezing
   • frostbitten fingers
   • frostbitten grapes unsalable as fresh fruit