Definition of freezing adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

freezing

adjective

/ˈfriːzɪŋ/

(also freezing cold)
extremely cold
- It's freezing in here!
- I'm freezing!
- My hands are freezing!
- It's freezing cold outside.
Synonyms cold
coldcool ▪ freezing ▪ chilly ▪ lukewarm ▪ tepidThese words all describe somebody/something that has a low temperature.
cold having a temperature that is lower than usual or lower than the human body; (of food or drink) not heated; cooled after being cooked:
I’m cold. Turn the heating up.
Outside it was bitterly cold.
a cold wind
hot and cold water
It’s cold chicken for lunch.
cool (often approving) fairly cold, especially in a pleasant way:
a long cool drink
We found a cool place to sit.
freezing extremely cold; having a temperature below 0° Celsius:
It’s absolutely freezing outside.
I’m freezing!
chilly (rather informal) too cold to be comfortable:
Bring a coat. It might turn chilly later.
lukewarm (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
Her coffee was now lukewarm.
tepid (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
a jug of tepid water
lukewarm or tepid?There is really no difference in meaning or use between these words.Patterns
- to feel/get cold/cool/chilly
- cold/cool/freezing/chilly air/weather
- a cold/cool/freezing/chilly wind
- cold/cool/freezing/lukewarm/tepid water
- a cold/cool/lukewarm/tepid shower/bath
- cold/lukewarm/tepid tea/coffee/food
- a cold/cool drink
- It’s cold/chilly/freezing outside.
Extra Examples
- The water was freezing.
- He plunged into the freezing water.
Topics Weatherb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- feel
- look
- …
adverb
- absolutely
phrases
- freezing cold
See full entry
Definitions on the go

Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
[only before noun] having temperatures that are below 0° Celsius
- Expect icy roads and freezing fog tonight.
- freezing temperatures
- She walked out into the freezing sleet.
Synonyms cold
coldcool ▪ freezing ▪ chilly ▪ lukewarm ▪ tepidThese words all describe somebody/something that has a low temperature.
cold having a temperature that is lower than usual or lower than the human body; (of food or drink) not heated; cooled after being cooked:
I’m cold. Turn the heating up.
Outside it was bitterly cold.
a cold wind
hot and cold water
It’s cold chicken for lunch.
cool (often approving) fairly cold, especially in a pleasant way:
a long cool drink
We found a cool place to sit.
freezing extremely cold; having a temperature below 0° Celsius:
It’s absolutely freezing outside.
I’m freezing!
chilly (rather informal) too cold to be comfortable:
Bring a coat. It might turn chilly later.
lukewarm (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
Her coffee was now lukewarm.
tepid (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
a jug of tepid water
lukewarm or tepid?There is really no difference in meaning or use between these words.Patterns
- to feel/get cold/cool/chilly
- cold/cool/freezing/chilly air/weather
- a cold/cool/freezing/chilly wind
- cold/cool/freezing/lukewarm/tepid water
- a cold/cool/lukewarm/tepid shower/bath
- cold/lukewarm/tepid tea/coffee/food
- a cold/cool drink
- It’s cold/chilly/freezing outside.
see also sub-freezing
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- feel
- look
- …
adverb
- absolutely
phrases
- freezing cold
See full entry

See freezing in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee freezing in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: freezing

Other results

All matches

Nearby words

trait

noun

From the Word list

Oxford 5000

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day