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"Thaw" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "derretirse", and "defrost" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "descongelar". Learn more about the difference between "thaw" and "defrost" below.
thaw(
tha
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. derretirse
The last of the snow has finally thawed.Por fin se derritió lo que quedaba de la última nevada.
With the arrival of spring, all of the ice thawed and there were puddles of water all over the city.Con la llegada de la primavera, todo el hielo se derritió y la ciudad quedó cubierta de charcos de agua.
b. fundirse (ice or snow)
The ice cubes quickly thawed in his drink and diluted it.Los cubitos de hielo se fundieron rápidamente en su bebida y la diluyeron.
c. descongelarse
The pizza has to thaw before you can put it in the oven.La pizza tiene que descongelarse antes de meterla en el horno.
a. relajarse
Relations between the warring countries thawed after they signed the treaty.La relación entre los países en guerra se relajó después de la firma del tratado.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. derretir
The intense sun thawed all the ice on the sidewalks this morning.El sol intenso derritió todo el hielo de las aceras esta mañana.
b. fundir (ice or snow)
You can create a smoky effect by thawing dry ice in water.Puedes crear humo fundiendo hielo seco en agua.
c. descongelar
It would be safest if you thawed the turkey in the refrigerator.Lo más seguro sería descongelar el pavo en el refrigerador.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
5. (weather)
a. el deshielo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The lake was too dangerous to skate on after the most recent thaw.Patinar en el lago era demasiado peligroso después del último deshielo.
b. el derretimiento (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Meteorologists have found evidence of a gradual thaw of the poles as a result of global warming.Los meteorólogos encontraron pruebas del derretimiento gradual de los polos como resultado del calentamiento global.
6. (politics)
a. la descongelación (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
More trade occurred between the two areas after the thaw in relations.Aumentó el comercio entre las dos regiones después de la descongelación de sus relaciones.
b. el deshielo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
There has been an ongoing diplomatic thaw between the United States and Cuba.Se ha producido un deshielo de las relaciones diplomáticas entre los Estados Unidos y Cuba.
defrost(
di
-
frast
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to thaw)
a. descongelar
Defrost the meat slowly by moving it from the freezer to the refrigerator.Descongela la carne lentamente pasándola del congeldor al refrigerador.
a. deshelar
I have to defrost the refrigerator before the repairman can fix it.Debo deshelar el refrigerador antes de que el técnico lo pueda reparar.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. descongelarse
The lightning storm took out the electricity and my frozen food defrosted.La tormenta eléctrica cortó la electricidad y la comida congelada se descongeló.
