freezing

Etymology

adj

1. (literally) Suffering or causing frost
2. (by extension, chiefly hyperbolic) Very cold
3. (with above or below) Zero °C, the freezing point of water.
   Despite this, the average temperature at the surface [of Mars] is 50–60K below freezing, making it hard to imagine that any plants or animals could survive. 1998, Bruce Jakosky, The Search for Life on Other Planets

noun

1. (uncountable, physics, chemistry) The change in state of a substance from liquid to solid by cooling to a critically low temperature.
   Hence, there is a succession of thawings and freezings. The former expand, and endeavour to restore the surface of the ground to its natural condition, while the latter contract and harden it. 1829, James Macauley, The natural, statistical, and civil history of the state of New York
2. (countable, medicine) The action of numbing with anesthetics.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of freeze