When something thaws, it warms up enough to change from frozen solid back to liquid or soft. In winter, a frozen pond thaws in spring when temperatures rise above freezing, turning the ice back into water. Frozen ground thaws after a cold snap ends, becoming soft enough to dig in again. Your mom might thaw frozen chicken for dinner by thawing it safely in the refrigerator until it's no longer rock-solid.

The word also describes when cold relationships become warmer and friendlier. If two friends have a fight and stop talking, their friendship might gradually thaw as they start being kind to each other again. When a shy new student finally relaxes and starts joining conversations, you could say they're thawing out. Countries that were once enemies can experience a thaw in relations when they begin cooperating instead of threatening each other.

A thaw can also be a noun: a period of warm weather that melts ice and snow. After weeks of bitter cold, a midwinter thaw might bring a few days where icicles drip and snow turns slushy underfoot.