Phrase guide

frost line

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The depth to which the water present in the soil is expected to freeze in winter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The uninsulated water pipes must be installed below the frost line to prevent them from freezing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: frost depth, freezing depth

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The depth to which the water present in the soil is actually frozen in a given place at a given point in time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Due to the thin layer of snow on the ground the frost line has penetrated unusually deep this year.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: frost front

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

In a solar system, the distance from the protosun beyond which hydrogen-containing gas compounds freeze.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: astrophysics

Examples

  • In our Solar System the frost line lies between Mars and Jupiter at about five astronomical units from the Sun.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: snow line, ice line

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: vorstgrens — expected depth of soil freezing
  • Finnish: routaraja — expected depth of soil freezing
  • Dutch: vorstgrens — actual depth of soil freezing
  • Finnish: routaraja — actual depth of soil freezing
  • German: Frosttiefe — actual depth of soil freezing
  • Finnish: jääraja — astronomy: distance from the protosun