The morphological prefix used in the formation of the word "defrost" is de-. In English grammar and etymology, the prefix de- is a Latin-derived bound morpheme that typically conveys a meaning of removal, reversal, down, or getting rid of something. When attached to the root noun or verb "frost," the prefix reverses the action, creating a new word that explicitly means to remove, melt, or clear away frost, ice, or frozen buildup. This same prefix appears across numerous other common English technical and domestic words, such as de-ice, dehumidify, defrost, and deactivate, all of which signify stripping away or reversing a condition. You can verify this structural breakdown by reviewing standard English morphology and etymological dictionaries that track prefixes and root words.
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