frost

The word "frost" can be used as a noun to describe those small ice particles that form on cold surfaces:

frost

• When John goes out to his car in the morning, he has to scrape the frost off of his window.
• The harvest season comes to an end with the first frost. After that plants wilt and die.
• If too much frost builds up inside your freezer, you have to defrost it. (This happens on old freezers.)

• To defrost a freezer, you open up the freezer door and let the ice melt. (The word "defrost" in this sentence is a verb.)
• To defrost the windows on your car in the winter, use the defroster.

You can also use the word "frost" as a verb, but it’s usually used when putting the icing (sweet sugary stuff) on cake:

• She frosted the cake with tremendous skill.
• Did you frost the cake yet?
• I frosted the cake this morning.

The word "frosting" is a noun:

• I like chocolate frosting.
• Do you like frosting on a cake?

What flavor is the frosting on this birthday cake?

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First published February 7, 2012.