freeze

S2 W2

BrE /friːz/ AmE /friːz/

verb / noun en → es

past froze pp frozen ing freezing

1 TEMPERATURE [intransitive], [transitive] B1

to become or to make something very cold, so that water turns into ice and other liquids solidify

congelarse, congelar

  • freeze to death
  • freeze something

Collocations freeze to death · freeze the food

  • The pipes froze and burst.

    Las tuberías se congelaron y estallaron.

2 STOP MOVEMENT [intransitive], [transitive] B1

to stop moving suddenly, or to make something do this

detenerse bruscamente, detener algo

  • freeze in your tracks
  • freeze somebody/something

Collocations freeze in your tracks · freeze the car

  • He froze when he saw a snake.

    Se detuvo bruscamente al ver una serpiente.

3 STOP ACTION [transitive] B2

to stop an action or process suddenly, or to make it do this

detener, parar

  • freeze something

Collocations freeze the frame · freeze the camera

  • The director froze the action to give instructions.

    El director detuvo la acción para dar instrucciones.

4 STOP CHANGE [transitive] C1

to stop a process of change, or to make it do this

congelar, mantener inalterado

  • freeze something

Collocations freeze the pension scheme · freeze the prices

  • The government froze interest rates.

    El gobierno congeló las tasas de interés.

1 STATE [noun] B1

a very cold state or condition, especially when water turns into ice and other liquids solidify

congelación, estado congelado

2 STOP MOVEMENT [noun] B1

a sudden stop in movement or action

parada brusca, detención

Phrasal verbs

freeze out EXCLUDE C1

excluir, marginar

  • They froze him out of the group.

    Lo excluyeron del grupo.

freeze up STOP MOVING B2

bloquearse, congelarse

  • He froze up when he saw the police.

    Se bloqueó al ver a la policía.

freeze over ICE FORMATION B2

congelarse, cubrirse de hielo

  • The lake froze over last night.

    El lago se congeló anoche.

freeze off REMOVE C1

congelo, congela

  • The frost froze the pipes off.

    El frío congeló las tuberías.

freeze in STAY IN PLACE C1

quedarse en casa, quedarse atrapado

  • We were frozen in by the snow.

    Nos quedamos atrapados por la nieve.

Idioms

freeze to death B2

morir de frío, congelarse hasta morir

  • He was freezing to death in the snow.

    Se estaba congelando hasta morir en la nieve.

freeze one's ass off C1

tener mucho frío, congelarse

  • I froze my ass off waiting for the bus.

    Me congelé esperando el autobús.

freeze your blood C1

poner los pelos de punta, helar la sangre

  • The sight froze my blood.

    La vista me puso los pelos de punta.