thaw

Noun

• a relaxation or slackening of tensions or reserve; becoming less hostile
  • the thaw between the United States and Russia has led to increased cooperation in world affairs
    

• warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt
  • they welcomed the spring thaw
    

• the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
  • the power failure caused a refrigerator melt that was a disaster
    
  • the thawing of a frozen turkey takes several hours
    

Verb

• become or cause to become soft or liquid
  • The sun melted the ice
    
  • the ice thawed
    
  • the ice cream melted
    
  • The heat melted the wax
    
  • The giant iceberg dissolved over the years during the global warming phase
    
  • dethaw the meat
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  thawing , warming , melt , melting , dissolve , unfreeze , unthaw , dethaw