The Clue
Easing of tension (4 letter answer)
The Answer
THAW
Tags
Notes
The answer THAW is seen frequently, appearing about once every 150 puzzles.
Related Clues
Antifreeze?
Defrost
Detente
Melt
Rapprochement
Relax
Unbend
Unfreeze
Become warmer
January "warming"
Melt the ice
Relief for the snowbound
Remove from the freezer
Sign of spring
Soften up
Spring in Alaska
Spring event
Spring happening
Spring occurrence
Spring phenomenon
Springtime period
Warm up
Warming trend
Winter break
Winter reversal
Become less hostile
Become less tense
January warm spell
Midwinter event, often
Midwinter phenomenon, sometimes
Opening for peace talks
Spell of warm weather
Take out of the freezer
Definition
THAW as a noun:
1. (thaw, melt, thawing, melting) = the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid; "the power failure caused a refrigerator melt that was a disaster"; "the thawing of a frozen turkey takes several hours"
2. (thaw, thawing, warming) = warm weather following a freeze; snow and ice melt; "they welcomed the spring thaw"
3. a relaxation or slackening of tensions or reserve; becoming less hostile; "the thaw between the United States and Russia has led to increased cooperation in world affairs"
THAW as a verb:
1. (dissolve, thaw, unfreeze, unthaw, dethaw, melt) = become or cause to become soft or liquid; "The sun melted the ice"; "the ice thawed"; "the ice cream melted"; "The heat melted the wax"; "The giant iceberg dissolved over the years during the global warming phase"; "dethaw the meat"