Cold Definition

kōld
coldest, colder
adjective
coldest, colder
Of a temperature significantly or noticeably lower than average, normal, expected, or comfortable; very chilly; frigid.
A cold wind.
Webster's New World
Being at a temperature that is less than what is required or what is normal.
Cold oatmeal.
American Heritage Medicine
Without the proper heat or warmth.
This soup is cold.
Webster's New World
Chilled by refrigeration or ice.
Cold lemonade.
American Heritage Medicine
Without the proper heat, warmth, or warm-up period.
Webster's New World
adverb
To an unqualified degree; totally.
Was cold sober.
American Heritage
Absolutely; completely.
She was stopped cold.
Webster's New World
With complete mastery.
The actor had the lines down cold.
Webster's New World
With little or no preparation.
To enter a game cold.
Webster's New World
While at low temperature.
The steel was processed cold.
Wiktionary
noun
Absence of heat; lack of warmth: often thought of as an active force.
Webster's New World
A low temperature; esp., one below freezing.
Webster's New World
The sensation produced by a loss or absence of heat.
Webster's New World
Cold weather.
Webster's New World
A contagious, viral infection of the respiratory passages, esp. of the nose and throat, characterized by an acute inflammation of the mucous membranes, nasal discharge, malaise, etc.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
idiom
out in the cold
  • Lacking benefits given to others; neglected.
American Heritage
catch cold
  • to become ill with a cold
Webster's New World
cold comfort
  • little or no comfort at all
Webster's New World
come in from the cold
  • to come out of exile, isolation, etc.; resume an active role
Webster's New World
leave someone cold
  • to fail to arouse someone's interest
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Cold

Noun

Singular:
cold
Plural:
colds

Adjective

Base Form:
cold
Comparative:
colder
Superlative:
coldest

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Cold

Origin of Cold

  • From Middle English cold, from Old English cald, ċeald (“cold”), from Proto-Germanic *kaldaz, a participle form of *kalaną (“to be cold”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“cold”). Cognate with Scots cald, cauld (“cold”), West Frisian kâld (“cold”), Dutch koud (“cold”), Low German kold, koolt, koold (“cold”), German kalt (“cold”), Danish kold (“cold”), Norwegian Bokmål kald (“cold”), Swedish kall (“cold”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English ceald gel- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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