WordGarden.iofrosty
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈɒsti/
US
- /ˈfrɔsti/
Meanings
Adjective
very cold or covered with frost
unfriendly, chilly, or emotionally distant
Beyond the definition
"Frosty" most literally describes something covered in frost, that thin layer of ice crystals you see on windows or grass on a cold morning. But it is also often used for people, feelings, and situations. If someone is being frosty, they are acting distant, unfriendly, and not very welcoming. You might say, "There was a frosty silence between them" after an argument, or that the reception to your idea was "frosty" if people did not seem pleased or interested. It can also describe something simply very cold, like a frosty drink on a hot day.
The word "frosty" has both a literal and a figurative side. First, it relates to frost, the thin icy layer that forms when the air is very cold. You will often hear it in phrases like "a frosty morning," "a frosty field," or "a frosty window." It can also describe something that feels nicely cold, such as a "frosty drink."
But "frosty" is also very common when talking about human behavior. A frosty look, tone, welcome, or relationship feels cold in an emotional sense. It suggests distance, little warmth, and sometimes quiet anger. If two people speak politely but seem tense, the mood between them may be described as frosty. If an audience gives an idea a frosty reception, they are not excited by it and may even disapprove.
The word usually gives a clear image of coldness, whether real or emotional. Sometimes it sounds serious, and sometimes a little playful, depending on the context. You might talk about a frosty path in winter, a frosty stare from a disappointed friend, or a frosty glass on a summer day. In each case, the idea is the same: something cold, or something that feels cold in the way it is given or received.
Examples
- 1
Weather
We woke up to a frosty morning and a white lawn.
- 2
Cold object
He pressed a frosty bottle of water against his face after the run.
- 3
Unfriendly expression
The manager gave us a frosty look when we arrived late.
- 4
Unfriendly welcome
Her ex-boyfriend got a frosty reception at the party.
- Phrasea frosty reception
an unfriendly welcome
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Conversation tone
The conversation turned frosty as soon as they started talking about money.
- Phraseturn frosty
become cold and unfriendly
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- frostynounadjective
Forms
- frostiespluralnounadjective
- frostiercomparativeadjectivenoun
- frostiestsuperlativeadjectivenoun