thaw

Compared meaning: the process of a solid turning into liquid (noun).

比较义项：固体（尤指冰雪）变为液体的过程（名词）。

• melt

  General word for any solid turning to liquid — ice, butter, chocolate, metal — not limited to frozen water; broader in scope than thaw.

  泛指任何固体变为液体的过程——冰、黄油、巧克力、金属皆可——不限于冰冻的东西，适用范围比thaw更广。

  The chocolate began to melt in her hand within seconds.

  巧克力在她手里几秒钟内就开始融化了。

• thaw 本词

  Specifically about ice, snow, or frozen food turning back to liquid or soft as it warms up; often used for weather or defrosting food, sometimes as a noun for the period itself.

  专指冰、雪或冷冻食品随气温回升而解冻、变软的过程，常用于描述天气回暖或食物解冻，也可作名词指“解冻期”本身。

  Remove the fish from the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.

  把鱼从冷冻室拿出来，放在冰箱里解冻一整夜。

Both describe a solid turning to liquid. Melt is general, used for any solid, like butter or metal, not its meaning 'to be touched emotionally'. Thaw is specifically about ice, snow, or frozen food warming, for weather or defrosting, not its meaning 'relations becoming friendlier'.

这两个词都可表示固体变为液体的过程，但thaw专指冰、雪或冷冻食物随气温回升而解冻、回暖的过程或时期；melt适用范围更广，可指任何固体（黄油、巧克力、金属等）融化，不限于冰冻的东西。这里不比较melt表示“心软、感动”的引申义，也不比较thaw表示“（关系、气氛等）缓和”的引申义。