to solidify / freeze
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to solidify
To become solid and immobile through cold or a chemical process. For example, when a liquid turns into ice or another solid substance.
Das Wasser in der Pfütze ist über Nacht zu Eis erstarrt.
The water in the puddle solidified into ice overnight.
to freeze
To suddenly become motionless from shock, fear, or surprise. The body becomes stiff, and you can no longer move.
Als sie die Gestalt im Dunkeln sah, erstarrte sie vor Angst.
When she saw the figure in the dark, she froze with fear.
to become numb
To become emotionally unreceptive or detached; to no longer be able to show one's feelings.
Nach dem schweren Schicksalsschlag schien er innerlich völlig erstarrt zu sein.
After the severe blow of fate, he seemed to have become completely numb inside.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'er-' and the adjective 'starr' (rigid/immobile). The prefix 'er-' often describes the beginning of a process or the reaching of a state. So 'erstarren' means 'to become rigid.'
Als er die schlechte Nachricht hörte, erstarrte sein Gesichtsausdruck.
When he heard the bad news, his facial expression froze.
'Erstarren' (to solidify/freeze) always describes a change of state. Therefore, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), never with 'haben' (to have).
Die Lava ist nach dem Vulkanausbruch langsam erstarrt.
The lava slowly solidified after the volcanic eruption.
When someone freezes because of an emotion, the reason is often given with the preposition 'vor' and the dative. Typical phrases are 'vor Angst erstarren' (to freeze with fear), 'vor Schreck erstarren' (to freeze in shock), or 'vor Kälte erstarren' (to freeze from the cold).
Das Kaninchen erstarrte vor Angst, als es den Fuchs sah.
The rabbit froze with fear when it saw the fox.
The meaning is clear depending on the context: If it is about liquids and cold, it is meant literally (water, lava). If it is about a sudden reaction to an event, it means freezing in shock. If it is about long-term feelings after trauma, it means emotional numbness.
Das flüssige Wachs erstarrt an der kalten Luft.
The liquid wax solidifies in the cold air.
to freeze
Einfrieren and erstarren can both describe a person who suddenly becomes motionless. Erstarren places more emphasis on the reaction to shock, fear, or surprise, while einfrieren describes this motionless behavior more vividly. Use erstarren for the emotional reaction and einfrieren for a vivid depiction of the moment.
Als plötzlich ein lauter Knall ertönte, erstarrte die verängstigte Besucherin vor Schreck.
When a loud bang suddenly sounded, the frightened visitor froze in shock.
Als plötzlich ein lauter Knall ertönte, fror die überraschte Besucherin mitten in der Bewegung ein.
When a loud bang suddenly sounded, the surprised visitor froze in the middle of her movement.
