How do you use the word "thaw" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "thaw": This river sometimes overflows after the thaw. The hoarfrost has not begun to thaw yet.

Thaw Meaning

/θɔː/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo gradually melt, dissolve, or become fluid; to soften from frozen.

verbTo gradually cause (something frozen, such as earth, ice, or snow) to melt or soften by raising the temperature.

Sentence Examples

This river sometimes overflows after the thaw.

The hoarfrost has not begun to thaw yet.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

melt

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The frozen river will ____ as the weather gets warmer in spring.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The frozen ground began to ____ as the warm spring sun finally arrived after several weeks of heavy snow today.

Word Origin & History

The verb is derived from Middle English thawen, thowen (“to melt (ice, snow, etc.), thaw”), from Old English þāwian, *þāwan (“to thaw”), from Proto-West Germanic *þauwjan (“to melt, thaw; to digest; to dissolve”), from Proto-Germanic *þawjaną (“to thaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂- (“to melt; to flow, stream”). The noun is derived from Late Middle English thawe, thowe (“melting of ice, snow, etc., thawing”), from thawen, thowen (verb) (see above). cognates * Dutch dooien (“to thaw”) * German tauen (“to thaw”) * German Low German deien (“to thaw”) * Icelandic þeyja (“to thaw”) * Saterland Frisian daie, dauje (“to thaw”) * Swedish töa (“to thaw”) * West Frisian teie (“to thaw”)

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"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 Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio ccclxxxviii, verso, column 1; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:

"Miſlike me not for my complexion, / The ſhadovved liuery of the burniſht ſunne, / To vvhom I am a neighbour,and neere bred. / Bring me the faireſt creature North-vvard borne, / VVhere Phœbus fire ſcarce thawes the yſicles, / And let vs make inciſion for your loue, / To proue vvhoſe blood is reddeſt, his or mine." — c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], signature C, recto:

"The Frame of burniſh'd Steel, that caſt a Glare / From far, and ſeem'd to thavv the freezing Air." — 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 44:

"There is a Plant that grovvs on Mount Libanus in Syria, vvhich the Arabian calls the Golden Herb; it begins to appear in the Month of May, after the Snovv is thavvn; in the tvvilight it appears all in a Flame, and continues like a Torch until Morning, vvithout diminution of its Subſtance." — a. 1705 (date written), Thomas Brown, “The London and Lacedemonian Oracles. […] In which He Undertakes to Answer All Witty and Ingenious Questions, for the Diversion as well as Satisfaction of the Curious.”, in The Third Volume of the Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, Containing, Amusements Serious & Comical, Calculated for the Meridian of London. […], London: […] S. B. and sold by R. Bragg, […], published 1708, →OCLC, page 138:

"But Mr. Bailly vvill ſooner thavv the eternal ice of his atlantic regions, than reſtore the central heat to Paris, […]" — 1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 349:

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