variants
or less commonly flash-freeze
flash froze also flash-froze
ˈflash-ˈfrōz 
; flash frozen also flash-frozen
ˈflash-ˈfrō-zᵊn
; flash freezing also flash-freezing; flash freezes also flash-freezes
; flash frozen also flash-frozen
ˈflash-ˈfrō-zᵊn
; flash freezing also flash-freezing; flash freezes also flash-freezes
: to freeze rapidly
The physician then inserts a specialized catheter through the endoscope, selects the targeted area and sprays liquid nitrogen to flash freeze the tissue.—
Business Wire
Business Wire
especially
: to freeze something (such as food) quickly to minimize the formation of ice crystals
Large catcher-processor vessels that flash freeze shrimp whole … account for the majority of the shrimp catch in Alaska. —Santi Roberts
Santi Roberts The farm stand offers its own produce … ; … flash-frozen wild salmon; local ice cream; and a variety of locally made dressings, honey and condiments. —Maureen Sullivan
Maureen Sullivan
variants
or less commonly flash-freeze
plural flash freezes also flash-freezes
: a rapid drop in atmospheric temperature to below the freezing point causing water on the ground to quickly become ice
Temperatures were expected to plummet on Thursday morning leading to a flash freeze.—Robert Pore
Robert PoreIt occurs when there's a rapid drop in temperatures causing a quick freeze of water already on the ground from rain or melted snow. A flash freeze is different from freezing rain, said Becky Kern, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley.—Michael O'Connor
Michael O'ConnorExamples of flash freeze in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Wrap with paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth and squeeze dry, then flash freeze on a lined baking sheet until firm.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
There is so much music to catch up on as Austinites defrost from the flash freeze earlier this week.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
There is potential for flash freeze of road surfaces for the latter portions of the Friday evening commute.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Indianapolis weather:Potential snow squalls have Indianapolis meteorologists on alert
Flash freezing for this evening
As temperatures fall later on today into the evening flash freezing on the surfaces of roads will also be possible.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Dec. 2024
Officials claim that the proprietary process of flash freezing the coffee immediately after extraction locks in exceptional freshness and flavor.
—Scott Kramer, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Verb
Following the ice cream explosion of the ‘70s, the next big wave came when Dippin’ Dots, an ice cream concept that flash freezes beaded ice cream mix in liquid nitrogen, debuted in 1988.
—Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Wrap with paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth and squeeze dry, then flash freeze on a lined baking sheet until firm.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
There is so much music to catch up on as Austinites defrost from the flash freeze earlier this week.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
There is potential for flash freeze of road surfaces for the latter portions of the Friday evening commute.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Indianapolis weather:Potential snow squalls have Indianapolis meteorologists on alert
Flash freezing for this evening
As temperatures fall later on today into the evening flash freezing on the surfaces of roads will also be possible.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Dec. 2024
Officials claim that the proprietary process of flash freezing the coffee immediately after extraction locks in exceptional freshness and flavor.
—Scott Kramer, Forbes, 22 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Flash freeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash%20freeze. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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