ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
Etymology: freeze up (verb phrase), from freeze (I) + up
1. : a freezing over of a body of water especially when marking the onset of winter
goes on duty in April, just before the swans arrive, and stays with them until they leave at freeze-up — Lyn Harrington
2. : a period during which the bodies of water in an area are frozen over
the freeze-up lasted six weeks last year
before the freeze-up sets in — V.E.Fuchs
all their food for seven months had to be taken to camp before the winter freeze-up — Bill Wolf