Freeze vs. Frozen — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 15, 2024
Freeze is the process of turning into ice or another solid state by cold, while frozen refers to the state of being solidified by cold.
Difference Between Freeze and Frozen
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Freeze describes the action or process of becoming hard or solid due to cold, indicating a transition from a liquid to a solid state. Whereas, frozen is the past participle of freeze, used to describe something that has already undergone this process and is now in a solid state, often implying it has been in this state for a period of time.
When discussing temperatures or conditions leading to the freezing process, "freeze" is used to denote the point at which this change occurs. For example, water freezes at 0°C. On the other hand, "frozen" is used to describe the condition of a material, such as water, that has already reached or surpassed this point and is now ice, indicating a completion of the transition.
In the context of actions, to freeze can imply an immediate reaction or command, such as in emergency situations or computer commands where immediate action is required to prevent changes or damage. Frozen, however, often relates to a resultant condition, such as frozen food, which is stored at freezing temperatures to preserve it.
Freeze is dynamic, suggesting ongoing action or the potential for something to undergo the process of freezing. Conversely, frozen denotes a static state, where the process has been completed, and the item or substance is now solid, reflecting a lack of movement or change.
The terms "freeze" and "frozen" also find metaphorical use beyond physical states. To "freeze" can mean to stop suddenly in response to fear or surprise, whereas being "frozen" can describe someone who is immobilized by fear or shock, showing the versatility of these terms in describing both physical and emotional states.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The process of becoming solid due to cold
The state of being solidified by cold
Usage
Indicates action or transition
Describes a completed state or condition
Example in Nature
Water begins to freeze at 0°C
A pond that is frozen over
Usage in Technology
"Freeze the screen to prevent changes"
"The system is frozen and needs to be restarted"
Metaphorical Meaning
To stop suddenly (e.g., "freeze in one's tracks")
Immobilized by fear or shock
Compare with Definitions
Freeze
The process of liquid turning into solid due to cold.
Water will freeze if the temperature drops below 0°C.
Frozen
Immobile or unable to act.
He was frozen with fear during the robbery.
Freeze
To fix something in place or stop an action.
Freeze the frame to analyze the detail.
Frozen
Preserved by being kept at subzero temperatures.
Frozen foods can be convenient for quick meals.
Freeze
To preserve food by cold.
You can freeze leftovers to eat them later.
Frozen
Indicating a halted state, especially in technology.
My computer has frozen; I can't click anything.
Freeze
To become immobile or stop suddenly.
The deer would freeze in the headlights of an approaching vehicle.
Frozen
Extremely cold.
Despite the frozen conditions, the game continued.
Freeze
To cause to become very cold.
The wind chill can freeze exposed skin quickly.
Frozen
Describes something that has been turned into ice or another solid.
The lake is completely frozen over.
Freeze
To pass from the liquid to the solid state by loss of heat.
Frozen
Past participle of freeze.
Freeze
To acquire a surface or coat of ice from cold
The lake froze over in January. Bridges freeze before the adjacent roads.
Frozen
Made into, covered with, or surrounded by ice.
Freeze
To become clogged or jammed because of the formation of ice
The pipes froze in the basement.
Frozen
Very cold
The frozen North.
Freeze
To be at that degree of temperature at which ice forms
It may freeze tonight.
Frozen
Preserved by freezing
Frozen meat.
Freeze
To be or feel uncomfortably cold
Aren't you freezing without a coat?.
Frozen
Rendered immobile
Frozen in their tracks with fear.
Freeze
To become fixed, stuck, or attached by or as if by frost
The lock froze up with rust.
Frozen
Immobile, as from pain or inflammation. Used of a joint
A frozen shoulder.
Freeze
To stop functioning properly, usually temporarily
My computer screen froze when I opened the infected program.
Frozen
Expressive of cold unfriendliness or disdain
A frozen look on their faces.
Freeze
To become motionless or immobile, as from surprise or attentiveness
I heard a sound and froze in my tracks.
Frozen
Kept at a fixed level
Frozen rents.
Freeze
To become unable to act or speak, as from fear
Froze in front of the audience.
Frozen
Impossible to withdraw, sell, or liquidate
Frozen assets.
Freeze
To become rigid and inflexible; solidify
An opinion that froze into dogma.
Frozen
Having undergone the process of freezing; in ice form.
The mammoth has been frozen for ten thousand years.
Freeze
To convert into ice.
Frozen
Immobilized.
I just stood frozen as the robber pointed at me with his gun.
Freeze
To cause ice to form upon.
Frozen
(of a bank account or assets) In a state such that transactions are not allowed.
Freeze
To cause to congeal or stiffen from extreme cold
Winter cold that froze the ground.
Frozen
(grammar) Retaining an older, obsolete syntax of an earlier version of a language, which now operates only on a specific word or phrase.
"Dice" is a frozen plural.
Freeze
To preserve (foods, for example) by subjecting to freezing temperatures.
Frozen
Congealed with cold; affected by freezing; as, a frozen brook.
They warmed their frozen feet.
Freeze
To damage, kill, or make inoperative by cold or by the formation of ice.
Frozen
Subject to frost, or to long and severe cold; chilly; as, the frozen north; the frozen zones.
Freeze
To make very cold; chill.
Frozen
Cold-hearted; unsympathetic; unyielding.
Be not ever frozen, coy.
Freeze
To immobilize, as with fear or shock.
Frozen
Turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold;
The frozen North
Frozen pipes
Children skating on a frozen brook
Freeze
To chill with an icy or formal manner
Froze me with one look.
Frozen
Absolutely still;
Frozen with horror
They stood rooted in astonishment
Freeze
To stop the motion or progress of
The negotiations were frozen by the refusal of either side to compromise.
Froze the video in order to discuss the composition of the frame.
Frozen
Devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain;
A frigid greeting
Got a frosty reception
A frozen look on their faces
A glacial handshake
Icy stare
Wintry smile
Freeze
To fix (prices or wages, for example) at a given or current level.
Frozen
Not thawed
Freeze
To prohibit further manufacture or use of.
Frozen
Used of foods; preserved by freezing sufficiently rapidly to retain flavor and nutritional value;
Frozen foods
Freeze
To prevent or restrict the exchange, withdrawal, liquidation, or granting of by governmental action
Freeze investment loans during a depression.
Froze foreign assets held by US banks.
Frozen
Not convertible to cash;
Frozen assets
Freeze
To anesthetize by chilling.
Frozen
Incapable of being changed or moved or undone; e.g.
Frozen prices
Living on fixed incomes
Freeze
(Sports) To keep possession of (a ball or puck) so as to deny an opponent the opportunity to score.
Freeze
The act of freezing.
Freeze
The state of being frozen.
Freeze
A spell of cold weather; a frost.
Freeze
A restriction that forbids a quantity from rising above a given or current level
A freeze on city jobs.
A proposed freeze on the production of nuclear weapons.
Freeze
Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature.
The lake froze solid.
Freeze
(transitive) To lower something's temperature to the point that it freezes or becomes hard.
Don't freeze meat twice.
Freeze
(intransitive) To drop to a temperature below zero degrees celsius, where water turns to ice.
It didn't freeze this winter, but last winter was very harsh.
Freeze
To be affected by extreme cold.
It's freezing in here!
Don't go outside wearing just a t-shirt; you'll freeze!
Freeze
(intransitive) (of machines and software) To come to a sudden halt, stop working (functioning).
Since the last update, the program freezes after a few minutes of use.
Freeze
(intransitive) (of people and other animals) To stop (become motionless) or be stopped due to attentiveness, fear, surprise, etc.
Despite all of the rehearsals, I froze as soon as I got on stage.
Freeze
(transitive) To cause someone to become motionless.
Freeze
(figuratively) To lose or cause to lose warmth of feeling; to shut out; to ostracize.
Over time, he froze towards her, and ceased to react to her friendly advances.
Freeze
To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.
Freeze
(transitive) To prevent the movement or liquidation of a person's financial assets
The court froze the criminal's bank account.
Freeze
Of prices, spending etc., to keep at the same level, without any increase.
Freeze
(Internet) To prevent from showing any visible change.
Some websites, such as YouTube, deliberately freeze the view count, intended to deter attempts to game the system.
Freeze
A period of intensely cold weather.
Freeze
A halt of a regular operation.
Freeze
(computer) The state when either a single computer program, or the whole system ceases to respond to inputs.
Freeze
(curling) A precise draw weight shot where a delivered stone comes to a stand-still against a stationary stone, making it nearly impossible to knock out.
Freeze
A block on pay rises or on the hiring of new employees etc.
A hiring freeze;
A pay freeze
Freeze
A frieze.
Freeze
The act of congealing, or the state of being congealed.
Freeze
To become congealed by cold; to be changed from a liquid to a solid state by the abstraction of heat; to be hardened into ice or a like solid body.
Freeze
To congeal; to harden into ice; to convert from a fluid to a solid form by cold, or abstraction of heat.
Freeze
To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill.
A faint, cold fear runs through my veins,That almost freezes up the heat of life.
A railroad which had a London connection must not be allowed to freeze out one that had no such connection.
It is sometimes a long time before a player who is frozen out can get into a game again.
Freeze
The withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
Freeze
Weather cold enough to cause freezing
Freeze
An interruption or temporary suspension of progress or movement;
A halt in the arms race
A nuclear freeze
Freeze
Fixing (of prices or wages etc) at a particular level;
A freeze on hiring
Freeze
Change to ice;
The water in the bowl froze
Freeze
Stop moving or become immobilized;
When he saw the police car he froze
Freeze
Cause to freeze;
Freeze the leftover food
Freeze
Stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it;
Suspend the aid to the war-torn country
Freeze
Be very cold, below the freezing point;
It is freezing in Kalamazoo
Freeze
Change from a liquid to a solid when cold;
Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit
Freeze
Prohibit the conversion or use of (assets);
Blocked funds
Freeze the assets of this hostile government
Freeze
Anesthetize by cold
Freeze
Suddenly behave coldly and formally;
She froze when she saw her ex-husband
Common Curiosities
What is meant by frozen?
It refers to the state of being solid after being exposed to cold.
What does it mean to freeze something?
To cause it to become solid due to cold.
What is freeze-drying?
It's a process where water is frozen and then removed from the substance by vacuum, keeping the food preserved.
Why do some liquids freeze faster than others?
Due to differences in chemical composition and properties like viscosity and freezing point.
Can freezing water crack pipes?
Yes, because water expands when frozen, it can exert pressure on pipes, causing them to crack.
What are freeze-resistant materials?
Materials that can withstand very low temperatures without losing their structural integrity or function.
How can frozen foods be safely defrosted?
By transferring them from the freezer to the refrigerator, using cold water, or using a microwave on the defrost setting.
Can something be freezing and frozen at the same time?
Typically, "freezing" refers to the ongoing process, while "frozen" means the process is complete, so they represent different stages.
Is it possible to freeze gases?
Yes, gases can be frozen at very low temperatures, turning them into solids.
Why do we feel frozen in fear sometimes?
It's a psychological response where the body temporarily immobilizes as a defensive mechanism.
How does freezing affect food?
Freezing food slows down decomposition by turning residual moisture into ice, preserving it for longer periods.
Can freezing damage electronics?
Yes, extreme cold can damage the battery, screen, and internal components of electronic devices.
How do animals survive in frozen environments?
Many have adaptations like antifreeze proteins in their blood to prevent ice formation in their cells.
What is the freezing point of alcohol?
Alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water, typically around -114°C for ethanol.
What does "freeze your assets" mean?
It refers to a legal or financial action preventing the sale or use of someone's assets.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
