THAW

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ~ian; akin to Old High German douwen to ~, Greek tēkein to melt, Latin tabēre to waste away Date: before 12th century transitive verb to cause to ~, intransitive verb 1. to go from a frozen to a liquid state ; melt , to become free of the effect (as stiffness, numbness, or hardness) of cold as a result of exposure to warmth, to be warm enough to melt ice and snow, to abandon aloofness, reserve, or hostility ; unbend , to become mobile, active, or susceptible to change, II. noun Date: 15th century the action, fact, or process of ~ing, a period of weather warm enough to ~ ice , the action or process of becoming less aloof, less hostile, or more genial