breaking-up DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
1 n.
the melting of the snow and the frozen ground in spring; spring thaw.
See also: break-up (meaning 1b)
2 n.
the spring thawing of the ice on rivers and lakes, especially the point in time when the ice breaks into pieces that are flushed away by the current.
See also: break-up (def. 1)