1. Become or cause to become soft or liquid
   "the ice thawed";
   - dissolve, unfreeze, unthaw [N. Amer], melt

1. The process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
   "The spring thaw caused flooding along the river";
   - melt, thawing, melting
    
2. Warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt
   "they welcomed the spring thaw";
   - thawing, warming
    
3. 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"

Derived forms: thawed, thawing, thaws

Type of: atmospheric condition, conditions, flux, heating, liquefy, liquify, loosening, phase change, phase transition, physical change, relaxation, slackening, softening, state change, warming, weather, weather condition

Encyclopedia: Thaw, William