Water is a very remarkable compound. It has an innate ability to interact with other water molecules through the formation of hydrogen bonds. (see hydrogen_bond for more details)

The fact that water has the ability to form four hydrogen bonds (each molecule can donate two hydrogen atoms and accept two oxygen atoms) gives it quite unique propertiesone of which is to have a relatively high freezing point with respect to other molecules of a comparable size and make up. Alcohols also have the ability to create hydrogen bonds with themselves but not to the same degree.