Antifreezing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Adding a chemical coolant to a liquid system so that it will not freeze in cold conditions
2. Treating an engine or radiator by filling it with a substance that lowers the freezing point of its fluid
3. Protecting a cooling system or other liquid from freezing by mixing in a freezing-point-lowering agent

Etymology: "Antifreezing" is simply the verb form of a compound built from "anti-", a prefix meaning "against" that comes from Greek "anti", and "freezing", the present participle of "freeze". Together they describe the act of guarding something against freezing, usually a liquid in an engine, pipe or radiator. The word works exactly as its parts suggest, with no hidden twist in meaning. "Anti-" attaches readily to English nouns and verbs to express opposition or protection, so "antifreeze" (the liquid itself) came first and the verbal form followed from it, as "antifreezing" describes the process of adding such protection.