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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.
Freeze vs. Frozen — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Freeze and Frozen

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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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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj 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 Rafique
Fiza 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.

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