defrost

verb

de·​frost di-ˈfrȯst How to pronounce defrost (audio)
ˈdē-ˌfrȯst
defrosted; defrosting; defrosts

transitive verb

1
: to release from a frozen state
defrost meat
2
a
: to free from ice
defrost a refrigerator/freezer
b
: to clear (a window or windshield) with a vehicle's defroster
defrost a windshield to clear it of ice and condensation

intransitive verb

: to thaw out especially from a deep-frozen state

Examples of defrost in a Sentence

You can defrost the soup in the microwave. Has the refrigerator defrosted yet?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From a food safety perspective, freezing and defrosting deviled eggs is low-risk. — Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025 Unless someone inside the federal government continues to ensure the liquid nitrogen doesn’t totally evaporate, the samples will eventually defrost and begin to rot, according to three staff researchers who work with such materials. — Caroline Haskins, Wired News, 17 Apr. 2025 There were no sanitizer buckets in the kitchen and a container of ground beef was defrosting incorrectly, according to the report. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2025 Watch this video to learn how to quickly defrost frozen meat. — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defrost

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of defrost was in 1895

Rhymes for defrost

See All Rhymes for defrost

Browse Nearby Words

defrock
defrost
defroster
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defrost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defrost. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

defrost

verb
de·​frost di-ˈfrȯst How to pronounce defrost (audio)
ˈdē-
1
: to free from a frozen state : thaw out
defrost meat
2
: to free from ice
defrost a refrigerator
3
: to remove fog or condensed moisture from
defrost the windshield

More from Merriam-Webster on defrost

Nglish: Translation of defrost for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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