For a body of water or surface to become completely covered or solidified with ice.
When a lake, river, or other surface becomes totally covered in ice because it is very cold.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
For a body of water to become completely covered with a layer of ice.
"The pond in the park had frozen over by January, and children were skating on it."
The Thames froze over completely in 1963 for the last time.
— Various UK historical weather reports, widely cited
Used in the idiom 'when hell freezes over' to mean something will never happen.
"He'll apologize when hell freezes over — don't hold your breath."
To freeze across the top — the meaning is largely transparent.
When a lake, river, or other surface becomes totally covered in ice because it is very cold.
Used literally of water bodies and surfaces. Also used in the idiom 'when hell freezes over' to mean 'never'. Common in news and weather reporting.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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