Definition

A white, icy coating that forms on surfaces when moisture freezes, often seen on grass and trees in cold weather.

Example

In the early morning, the grass was covered in a beautiful layer of hoarfrost.

Conversation

Have you seen the hoarfrost outside this morning?

Yeah, it looks so beautiful on the grass!

I love how it makes everything look magical.

Totally! It’s like nature's own decoration.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hoarfrost originates from Old English 'harfrost', where 'har' (meaning gray or hoary) describes the color of frost, and 'frost' (meaning frost) refers to the icy deposit. The word 'hoarfrost' describes the grayish-white frost that forms on cold surfaces.

Memory Tip

Think of 'har' meaning gray, which helps you remember that 'hoarfrost' refers to the grayish-white frost that appears on cold surfaces.

Visually Confused Words