Dégivrer

Dégivrer is a French verb that means to remove frost or ice from a surface, and can also refer to thawing frozen food. The action is commonly associated with winter conditions, but it also covers the defrosting of appliances and food.

Etymology and use: The word combines the prefix de- (removal) with givre (frost). The related noun dégivrage denotes the process of removing frost or ice. Dégivrer is used in contexts such as cars, windows, and equipment, as well as in food preparation when frozen items are brought to a usable state.

Common uses: In everyday life, people say dégivrer le pare-brise or dégivrer les vitres to remove ice from a windshield or windows. In household appliances, on a refrigerator or freezer, dégivrer describes removing the frost buildup. In cooking, dégivrer des aliments means to thaw frozen foods before cooking, which can be done in a refrigerator, in cold water, or in a microwave, depending on safety guidelines.

Conjugation and forms: Dégivrer is a regular -er verb. Present tense forms include je dégivre, tu dégives, il dégivre, nous dégivrons, vous dégivrez, ils dégivront. The past participle is dégivré, used in compound tenses (par exemple: j'ai dégivré). The noun form dégivrage refers to the process of removing frost or ice.

See also: dégivrage, dégel, décongélation.