lukewarm

The definition of lukewarm is someone or something not very warm or lacking in enthusiasm.

(adjective)

  1. An example of lukewarm is coffee after it's been sitting out for thirty minutes.
  2. An example of lukewarm is someone who reluctantly hugs another person.

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See lukewarm in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. barely or moderately warm: said of liquids
  2. not very warm or enthusiastic: lukewarm praise

Origin: ME luke warme < luke, tepid (akin to LowG luk, Du leuk, tepid < IE *kleu- < base *kel-, warm > OE hleowe, tepid, L calere, to be warm) + warm, warm

Related Forms:

See lukewarm in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Mildly warm; tepid.
  2. Lacking conviction or enthusiasm; indifferent: gave only lukewarm support to the incumbent candidate.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English leukwarm

Origin: : leuk, luke (possibly alteration of leu, from Old English hlēow; see kelə-1 in Indo-European roots)

Origin: + warm, warm; see warm

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Related Forms:

  • lukeˈwarmˈly adverb

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