Freeze, v. i. [imp. Froze (?); p. p. Frozen (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Freezing.] [OE. fresen, freosen, AS. freÛsan; akin to D. vriezen, OHG.
iosan, G. frieren, Icel. frjsa, Sw. frysa, Dan. fryse, Goth. frius
cold, frost, and prob. to L. prurire to itch, E. prurient, cf. L. prna
a burning coal, pruina hoarfrost, Skr. prushv ice, prush to spirt. &?;
18. Cf. Frost.] 1. To become congealed by cold; to be changed from a
liquid to a solid state by the abstraction of heat; to be hardened into
ice or a like solid body.
Water freezes at 32∞ above zero by Fahrenheit's thermometer; mercury
freezes at 40∞ below zero.
2. To become chilled with cold, or as with cold; to suffer loss of
animation or life by lack of heat; as, the blood freezes in the veins.