Dew vs Frost - What's the difference?
dew | frost |
(uncountable) moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc in the morning, resulting in drops.
(countable, but see usage notes) an instance of a such moisture settling on plants, etc.
(uncountable) Any moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces.
(figurative) Anything that falls lightly and in a refreshing manner.
* Shakespeare
An emblem of morning, or fresh vigour.
* Longfellow
To wet with, or as if with, dew; to moisten.
* A. B. Saxton
A cover of minute ice crystals on objects that are exposed to the air. Frost is formed by the same process as dew, except that the temperature of the frosted object is below freezing.
* 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. ยง 47.
The cold weather that causes these ice crystals to form.
(figurative) Coldness or insensibility; severity or rigidity of character.
* Sir Walter Scott
(obsolete) The act of freezing; the congelation of water or other liquid.
To get covered with frost .
To coat something (e.g. a cake) with icing to resemble frost.
To anger or annoy.
As nouns the difference between dew and frost
is that dew is (uncountable) moisture in the air that settles on plants, etc in the morning, resulting in drops while frost is a cover of minute ice crystals on objects that are exposed to the air frost is formed by the same process as dew, except that the temperature of the frosted object is below freezing.As verbs the difference between dew and frost
is that dew is to wet with, or as if with, dew; to moisten while frost is to get covered with frost .dew
English
(wikipedia dew)Noun
- There was a heavy dew this morning.
- The golden dew of sleep.
- The dew of his youth.
Usage notes
* Although the countable sense is still used, the plural form is now archaic or poetic only.Synonyms
* (moisture settling on plants) (obsolete)Verb
(en verb)- The grasses grew / A little ranker since they dewed them so.
Anagrams
* ----frost
English
(wikipedia frost)Noun
- It is more probable, in almost every country of Europe, that there will be frost sometime in January, than that the weather will continue open throughout that whole month;
- It was one of those moments of intense feeling when the frost of the Scottish people melts like a snow-wreath.
Derived terms
* black frost * degree of frost * frostbite * frostbitten * frostbound * frost-tender * frosty * hoar frost, hoarfrost * Jack Frost * permafrost * uremic frostVerb
(en verb)- I think the boss's decision frosted him, a bit.
