1 C1 neutral
To become stuck or bonded to something due to freezing temperatures.
"His bare hand froze to the metal pole after just a few seconds in the arctic air."
inseparable
freeze to
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To become bonded or attached to something as a result of extreme cold.
In plain English
When something gets stuck to another thing because it is frozen.
What does "freeze to" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To be so cold that one feels unable to move; to feel frozen in a particular spot.
"Standing outside without a coat, she was frozen to the bone."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To freeze and thereby attach to something (transparent).
Actually means
When something gets stuck to another thing because it is frozen.
Usage tip
Used in literal physical descriptions of cold-weather conditions. Closely related to 'freeze onto'. Uncommon in idiomatic use.
Words that pair with "freeze to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
metal skin pipe ground ice surface
How to conjugate "freeze to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
freeze to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
freezes to
he/she/it
Past simple
freezed to
yesterday
Past participle
freezed to
have + pp
-ing form
freezing to
continuous
Hear "freeze to" in the wild
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