frost

plural frosts · alternative obsolete froste

1. countableuncountableA cover of minute ice crystals on objects that are exposed to the air. Frost is formed by the same process as dew, except that the temperature of the frosted object is below freezing.
2. countableuncountableThe cold weather that causes these ice crystals to form.

   Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 31:40

   1 more example

   It is more probable, in almost every country of Europe, that there will be frost sometime in January, than that the weather will continue open throughout that whole month;

   1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 47

3. countablefigurativelyuncountableColdness or insensibility; severity or rigidity of character.

   It was one of those moments of intense feeling when the frost of the Scottish people melts like a snow-wreath.

   1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   Up to that time the girl had never really done her hair, and she regarded boots merely as things to protect the feet. Suddenly it dawned on her that she was considered plain and that she diffused an atmosphere of intellectual frost.

   1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries

   An LA-based business associate of Harry and Meghan, who live in Montecito, California, told the Telegraph there had been a “warming of the frost” between the king and his youngest son after Harry’s public attacks in his memoir, Spare, and television interviews.

   2026 June 28, Josh Halliday, “Prince Harry may cancel UK family visit after being refused police protection”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

4. countableobsoleteuncountableThe act of freezing; the congelation of water or other liquid.
5. countableuncountableA shade of white, like that of frost.
6. countabledatedslanguncountableA disappointment; a cheat.
7. countableuncountablebroadcastingA kind of light diffuser.

   Frosts and diffusion are flame retardant and produce similar results except that some of the frosts are very subtle in their effects. For example: Hamburg Frost will soften the beam edge with little additional spread of the beam.

   2013, Alan Bermingham, Location Lighting for Television, pages 9–26

present singular third person frosts · participle present frosting · participle past frosted · past frosted · alternative obsolete froste

1. transitiveTo cover with frost.
2. intransitiveTo become covered with frost.

   “The weather is pleasant while it frosted a little at night.”

   1975, Brian W. Blouet, Merlin P. Lawson, editors, Images of the Plains: The Role of Human Nature in Settlement, University of Nebraska Press, page 142

3. transitiveTo coat (something, e.g. a cake) with icing to resemble frost.
4. informaltransitiveTo anger or annoy.

   I think the boss's decision frosted him a bit.

5. transitiveTo sharpen (the points of a horse's shoe) to prevent it from slipping on ice.
6. transitiveTo bleach individual strands of hair while leaving adjacent strands untouched.

plural Frosts

1. countableuncountableA surname.

   A video filmed and shared on the social media site Bluesky by Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost, also a Democrat, shows Hairfield outside the building and several officers from the federal Department of Homeland Security behind the doors, labeled “All Access Entrance.”

   2025 February 7, Alex Baumhardt, “Oregon Rep. Bonamici among electeds inexplicably locked out of U.S. Education Department”, in Oregon Capital Chronicle, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2025

2. A number of places in the United States:
   1. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Livingston Parish, Louisiana.
   2. countableuncountableA township in Clare County, Michigan.
   3. countableuncountableA minor city in Faribault County, Minnesota.
   4. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Athens County, Ohio.
   5. countableuncountableA minor city in Navarro County, Texas.
   6. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.