online medical dictionary | definition of freeze

To lock an evolving software distribution or document against changes so it can be released with some hope of stability. Carries the strong implication that the item in question will "unfreeze" at some future date.

There are more specific constructions on this term. A "feature freeze", for example, locks out modifications intended to introduce new features but still allows bugfixes and completion of existing features; a "code freeze" connotes no more changes at all. At Sun Microsystems and elsewhere, one may also hear references to "code slush" - that is, an almost-but-not-quite frozen state.

(01 Jul 2002)

1. To become congealed by cold; to be changed from a liquid to a solid state by the abstraction of heat; to be hardened into ice or a like solid body.

Water freezes at 32 deg above zero by Fahrenheit's thermometer; mercury freezes at 40 deg below zero.

2. To become chilled with cold, or as with cold; to suffer loss of animation or life by lack of heat; as, the blood freezes in the veins. To freeze up (

Origin: OE. Fresen, freosen, AS. Freosan; akin to D. Vriezen, OHG. Iosan, G. Frieren, Icel. Frjsa, Sw. Frysa, Dan. Fryse, Goth. Frius cold, frost, and prob. To L. Prurire to itch, E. Prurient, cf. L. Prna a burning coal, pruina hoarfrost, Skr. Prushva ice, prush to spirt. 18. Cf. Frost.

(01 Mar 1998)