θɔ: v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by out) (of
ice or
snow or a
frozen thing) pass
into a
liquid or
unfrozen state. 2 intr. (usu. prec. by it as subject) (of
the weather)
become warm enough to
melt ice etc. (it
began to thaw). 3 intr. become warm enough to
lose numbness etc. 4 intr. become
less cold or
stiff in
manner; become genial. 5 tr. (often foll. by out)
cause to thaw. 6 tr.
make cordial or
animated. --n. 1 the
act or an
instance of thawing. 2 the warmth of
weather that thaws (a thaw
has set in). 3 Polit. a
relaxation of
control or
restriction. øøthawless adj. [OE thawian f. WG; orig. unkn.]