ice up
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (intransitive) To become covered or coated with a layer of ice. This typically happens to a surface when water freezes on it, often due to cold temperatures.
Usage
This verb describes a process where a previously clear or dry surface acquires a coating of ice. It is often used for man-made objects or surfaces exposed to the elements.
Examples
- The car windows iced up overnight during the frost.
- In winter, the roads can ice up very quickly after a sleet storm.
- The pilot was concerned when the aircraft's wings began to ice up.
Advanced Usage
- The phrasal verb is often used in a passive sense to describe the state of a surface: "The path was completely iced up and dangerous to walk on."
- It can be used figuratively to describe something becoming frozen, stiff, or immobilized, though this is less common: "After the argument, the atmosphere between them iced up."
Variants and Related Words
- Ice over: A very close synonym, often interchangeable with "ice up." ("The pond iced over in December.")
- Freeze up: Can be a synonym but has a broader application, meaning to become blocked or immobilized by ice or, figuratively, to stop functioning. ("The pipes froze up.")
- Frost up: Specifically means to become covered with frost (tiny ice crystals) rather than a solid layer of ice. ("The grass frosted up overnight.")
Synonyms
- Become iced over
- Glaze over (with ice)
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Ice over: See "Variants and Related Words" above.
Verb
- become covered with a layer of ice; of a surface such as a window
- When the wings iced up, the pilot was forced to land his plane