freezing

transitive verb

1. : to cause to become fixed, immovable, unavailable, or unalterable freeze interest rates

2. : to immobilize (as by government regulation or the action of a financial institution) the expenditure, withdrawal, or exchange of freeze foreign assets

3. : to restructure (the capital of a close corporation) so that the value is reflected mostly in preferred stock rather than common stock

   Note: Once capital is frozen, the common shares can be transferred to the heirs of the owner without taxation while the owner continues to enjoy the income from preferred stock dividends during his or her lifetime.