thaw

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
thaw/θɔː/

▶verb

• 1 (of ice, snow, or a frozen thing) become liquid or soft as a result of warming up.

  ■ (it thaws, it is thawing, etc.) the weather becomes warmer and causes snow and ice to melt.

  ■ cause to thaw.

• 2 (of a part of the body) become warm enough to stop feeling numb.

• 3 make or become friendlier or more cordial.

▶noun

• 1 a period of warmer weather that thaws ice and snow.

• 2 an increase in friendliness or cordiality.

– origin OE thawian (v.), of W. Gmc origin.