Word forms: comparative colder, superlative coldest, plural colds
1. adjective
Something that is cold has a very low temperature or a lower temperature than is normal or acceptable.
Rinse the vegetables under cold running water.
He likes his tea neither too hot nor too cold.
Your dinner's getting cold.
coldnessuncountable noun
She complained about the coldness of his hands. [+ of]
2. adjective
If it is cold, or if a place is cold, the temperature of the air is very low.
It was bitterly cold.
The house is cold because I can't afford to turn the heat on.
This is the coldest winter I can remember.
Synonyms: chilly, biting, freezing, bitter More Synonyms of cold
coldnessuncountable noun
Within quarter of an hour the coldness of the night had gone. [+ of]
3. uncountable noun [oft theNOUN]
Cold weather or low temperatures can be referred to as thecold.
He must have come inside to get out of the cold.
His feet were blue with cold.
Synonyms: coldness, chill, frigidity, chilliness More Synonyms of cold
4. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are cold, your body is at an unpleasantly low temperature.
I was freezing cold.
I'm hungry, I'm cold and I've nowhere to sleep.
Synonyms: freezing, frozen, chilled, numb More Synonyms of cold
5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Cold food, such as salad or meat that has been cooked and cooled, is not intended to be eaten hot.
A wide variety of hot and cold snacks will be available.
...cold meats.
6. adjective
Cold colours or cold light give an impression of coldness.
Generally, warm colours advance in painting and cold colours recede.
...the cold blue light from a streetlamp.
7. adjective
A cold person does not show much emotion, especially affection, and therefore seems unfriendly and unsympathetic. If someone's voice is cold, they speak in an unfriendly unsympathetic way.
[disapproval]
What a cold, unfeeling woman she was.
'Send her away,' Eve said in a cold, hard voice.
coldlyadverb
'I'll see you in the morning,' Hugh said coldly.
coldnessuncountable noun
His coldness angered her.
8. adjective
A cold trail or scent is one which is old and therefore difficult to follow.
He could follow a cold trail over hard ground and even over stones.
9. graded adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that someone is cold when they are trying to guess the answer to a question or puzzle, you mean that they are thinking about it in the wrong way and are going to give a wrong answer.
10. countable noun
If you have a cold, you have a mild, very common illness which makes you sneeze a lot and gives you a sore throat or a cough.
11. See also common cold
12.
See catch cold/catch a cold
13.
See leave sb cold
14.
See out cold
15.
See out in the cold
16. in cold blood
17. to get cold feet
18. to blow hot and cold
19. to pour cold water on something
More Synonyms of cold
cold in British English
(kəʊld)
adjective
1.
having relatively little warmth; of a rather low temperature
cold weather
cold hands
2.
without sufficient or proper warmth
this meal is cold
3.
lacking in affection, enthusiasm, or warmth of feeling
a cold manner
4.
not affected by emotion; objective
cold logic
5.
dead
6.
sexually unresponsive or frigid
7.
lacking in freshness
a cold scent
cold news
8.
chilling to the spirit; depressing
9.
(of a colour) having violet, blue, or green predominating; giving no sensation of warmth
10. metallurgy
denoting or relating to a process in which work-hardening occurs as a result of theplastic deformation of a metal at too low a temperature for annealing to take place
11.
(of a process) not involving heat, in contrast with traditional methods
cold typesetting
cold technology
12. informal
(of a seeker in a game) far from the object of a search
13.
denoting the contacting of potential customers, voters, etc, without previously approaching them in order to establish their interest
cold mailing
14. cold comfort
15. cold steel
16. from cold
17. in cold blood
18. leave someone cold
19. throw cold water on
noun
20.
the absence of heat regarded as a positive force
the cold took away our breath
21.
the sensation caused by loss or lack of heat
22. in the cold
23.
an acute viral infection of the upper respiratory passages characterized by discharge of watery mucus from the nose, sneezing, etc
24. catch a cold
adverb
25. informal
without preparation
he played his part cold
26. informal, mainly US and Canadian
thoroughly; absolutely
she turned him down cold
Derived forms
coldish (ˈcoldish)
adjective
coldly (ˈcoldly)
adverb
coldness (ˈcoldness)
noun
Word origin
Old English ceald; related to Old Norse kaldr, Gothic kalds, Old High German kalt; see cool
cold in American English
(koʊld)
adjective
1.
of a temperature significantly or noticeably lower than average, normal, expected, or comfortable; very chilly; frigid
a cold wind
2.
a.
without the proper heat or warmth
this soup is cold
b.
without the proper heat, warmth, or warm-up period
said of tires, engines, etc.
3.
dead
4.
feeling chilled
5.
without warmth of feeling; unfeeling; indifferent
a cold personality
6.
not cordial or kind; unfriendly
a cold reception
7.
sexually frigid
8.
depressing or saddening; gloomy
to realize the cold truth
9.
not involving one's feelings; detached; objective
cold logic
10.
designating or having colors that suggest cold, as tones of blue, green, or gray
11.
still far from what is being sought
said of the seeker
12.
not strong or fresh; faint or stale
a cold scent
13. US, Informal
unconscious
the boxer was knocked cold
14. Informal
unlucky or ineffective
a cold streak in baseball
adverb Informal
15. US
absolutely; completely
she was stopped cold
16. US
with complete mastery
the actor had the lines down cold
17.
with little or no preparation
to enter a game cold
noun
18.
a.
absence of heat; lack of warmth: often thought of as an active force
b.
a low temperature; esp., one below freezing
19.
the sensation produced by a loss or absence of heat
20.
cold weather
21.
a contagious, viral infection of the respiratory passages, esp. of the nose and throat, characterizedby an acute inflammation of the mucous membranes, nasal discharge, malaise, etc.
Idioms:
catch cold
cold comfort
come in from the cold
leave someone cold
have (or get) cold feet
in the cold
throw cold water on
Derived forms
coldly (ˈcoldly)
adverb
coldness (ˈcoldness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE (Anglian) cald < IE base *gel-, cold > cool, Ger kalt, L gelidus
More idioms containing
cold
a cold fish
get cold feet
cold comfort
when one person sneezes, another catches cold
leave someone out in the cold
leave someone cold
come in from the cold
cold as ice
catch someone cold
cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey
make your blood run cold
in cold blood
in the cold light of day
someone blows hot and cold
hot and cold
give someone the cold shoulder
put something into cold storage
in a cold sweat
pour cold water on something
Examples of 'cold' in a sentence
cold
The gun metal is cold and hard.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their walk is the ideal way to stay safe in cold weather.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The cold temperature naturally helps tighten the skin.
The Sun (2017)
Sadly that liquid is a reservoir of methane cold enough to make bananas as fragile as porcelain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He can blow hot and cold but when his game is on he is unstoppable.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His only change was to capitalise cold and war.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Cats can be cold like that.
The Sun (2016)
She takes it for coughs, colds and sore throats.
The Sun (2016)
The troops suffered atrocious conditions in bitterly cold winters, with temperatures down to minus 30C.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
White blood cell counts are raised when people suffer frequent illness such as colds.
The Sun (2015)
No cold dead eyes or razor teeth.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why does it feel much colder than the weather forecasts say it is?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We have tested the best clothes for those temperatures in a cold chamber.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Sometimes it makes us cold and wet and sometimes it makes us warm.
The Sun (2011)
You can deal with doubts and romance goes from cold to red hot.
The Sun (2008)
It was bitterly cold now and the ground was frozen hard.
Hibbert, Christopher Red Coats and Rebels - the war for America 1770-1781 (1990)
The ration packs were designed for a cold war.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You can handle the cold for a short period of time.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He woke up with a cold body next to him.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The chances are you get fewer colds and infections.
The Sun (2014)
If he catches a cold it hits him a lot harder than anyone else.
The Sun (2012)
None of us had a single cough or cold during the winter we lived there.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Perhaps you come from a cold home background and need help to thaw.
The Sun (2007)
They found the germs thrived when it was cold outside and dry indoors.
The Sun (2009)
When he sees it in the cold light of day he will see it was harsh.
The Sun (2013)
When warm air rises from your body it draws cold air up your knees.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But the thought of it just leaves me cold.
The Sun (2010)
They must simply distinguish between a good cold dish and a bad cold dish.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Leave to go cold and place in a serving dish.
The Sun (2013)
It will come as no surprise to hear that this month has proved wetter and colder than average.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You think these people can be swayed by cold, hard sense about economics?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's not necessary for most minor illnesses such as coughs, colds or sore throats.
The Sun (2016)
Word lists with
cold
Human diseases, Weather descriptions
In other languages
cold
British English: cold /kəʊld/ ADJECTIVE
weather If something is cold, it is not hot.
The weather is very cold.
American English: cold
Arabic: بَارِد
Brazilian Portuguese: frio
Chinese: 冷的
Croatian: hladan
Czech: chladný
Danish: kold
Dutch: koud
European Spanish: frío
Finnish: kylmä
French: froid
German: kalt
Greek: κρύος
Italian: freddo
Japanese: 寒い
Korean: 추운
Norwegian: kald
Polish: zimny
European Portuguese: frio
Romanian: rece
Russian: холодный
Latin American Spanish: frío
Swedish: kall inte varm
Thai: เย็น
Turkish: soğuk
Ukrainian: холодний
Vietnamese: lạnh
British English: cold /kəʊld/ NOUN
When you have a cold, you sneeze and cough a lot, and you have a sore throat.
American English: cold
Arabic: زُكَام
Brazilian Portuguese: resfriado
Chinese: 感冒
Croatian: prehlada
Czech: nachlazení
Danish: forkølelse
Dutch: verkoudheid
European Spanish: resfriado
Finnish: kylmyys
French: rhume
German: Kälte
Greek: κρύο
Italian: raffreddore
Japanese: 寒さ
Korean: 추위
Norwegian: kulde
Polish: zimno
European Portuguese: constipação
Romanian: răceală
Russian: простуда
Latin American Spanish: frío
Swedish: kyla
Thai: หวัด
Turkish: soğuk algınlığı
Ukrainian: застуда
Vietnamese: cảm cúm
British English: cold /kəʊld/ ADJECTIVE
person If you are cold, you do not feel comfortable because you are not warm enough.
Wear a jumper if you are cold.
American English: cold
Arabic: بارِد
Brazilian Portuguese: frio
Chinese: 冷的
Croatian: hladan
Czech: zimapocit chladu
Danish: fryse
Dutch: koud
European Spanish: frío
Finnish: kylmä
French: avoir froid
German: frieren
Greek: κρύος
Italian: freddo
Japanese: 寒い
Korean: 추운
Norwegian: kald
Polish: zmarznięty
European Portuguese: ter frio
Romanian: friguros
Russian: замерзнувший
Latin American Spanish: fríosensación corporal
Swedish: kall
Thai: หนาว
Turkish: üşümek
Ukrainian: змерзлий
Vietnamese: lạnh
All related terms of 'cold'
cold beer
Beer is a bitter alcoholic drink made from grain .
cold-brew
(of a drink such as tea or coffee ) prepared by steeping in cold water
cold call
If someone makes a cold call , they telephone or visit someone they have never contacted , without making an appointment, in order to try and sell something.
cold case
a police inquiry that has been suspended with the crime still unsolved
cold cash
money paid in full at the time of a business transaction
cold-cock
to strike so as to make unconscious
cold cuts
Cold cuts are thin slices of cooked meat which are served cold.
cold duck
an alcoholic beverage made from equal parts of burgundy and champagne
cold feet
loss or lack of courage or confidence
cold fish
If you say that someone is a cold fish , you think that they are unfriendly and unemotional.
cold meat
a form of meat that has been cooked and allowed to become cold
cold moon
a traditional name for a full moon occurring in December
cold one
a glass, can, or bottle of cold beer
cold pack
a method of lowering the body temperature by wrapping a person in a sheet soaked in cold water
cold room
a room that is used to chill or freeze foodstuffs
cold shut
A cold shut is a fault in the surface of a piece of metal caused by two streams of molten metal not joining properly when the piece is being cast .
cold snap
A cold snap is a short period of cold and icy weather.
cold sore
Cold sores are small sore spots that sometimes appear on or near someone's lips and nose when they have a cold.
cold spot
an area where house prices are stable and properties are slow to sell
cold tone
a bluish or greenish tinge in a black-and-white print
cold type
typesetting done by a method other than the casting of molten type
cold war
The Cold War was the period of hostility and tension between the Soviet bloc and the Western powers that followed the Second World War.
cold wave
a sudden spell of low temperatures over a wide area, often following the passage of a cold front
cold-weld
to join (two metal surfaces) without heat by forcing them together so that the oxide films are broken and adhesion occurs
cold work
the craft of shaping metal without heat
from cold
without advance notice ; without giving preparatory information
head cold
a cold which affects the mucous membranes of the nose ; the symptoms are sneezing , headaches and a blocked-up nose
ice-cold
If you describe something as ice-cold , you are emphasizing that it is very cold.
icy cold
very cold
out cold
If someone is out cold , they are unconscious or sleeping very heavily.
catch cold
to become ill with a cold
chest cold
a cold mainly affecting the chest
cold chisel
a toughened steel chisel
cold cream
an emulsion of water and fat used cosmetically for softening and cleansing the skin
cold-drawn
(of metal wire , bars, etc) having been drawn unheated through a die to reduce dimensions , toughen , and improve surface finish
cold frame
A cold frame is a wooden frame with a glass top in which you grow small plants to protect them from cold weather .
cold front
the boundary line between a warm air mass and the cold air pushing it from beneath and behind as it moves
cold fusion
the process of creating nuclear fusion at room temperature in order to create a power source
cold light
light emitted at low temperatures from a source that is not incandescent , such as fluorescence , phosphorescence , bioluminescence , or triboluminescence
cold-rolled
(of metal sheets, etc) having been rolled without heating, producing a smooth surface finish
cold rubber
synthetic rubber made at low temperatures (about 5°C). It is stronger than that made at higher temperatures and is used for car tyres
cold start
the reloading of a program or operating system
cold steel
the use of bayonets , knives , etc, in combat
cold store
A cold store is a building or room which is artificially cooled so that food can be preserved in it.
cold sweat
If you are in a cold sweat , you are sweating and feel cold, usually because you are very afraid or nervous .
cold turkey
Cold turkey is the unpleasant physical reaction that people experience when they suddenly stop taking a drug that they have become addicted to.
cold-water
designating a room, apartment , etc. that is not provided with hot water or, sometimes, a bathroom
cold winter
Winter is the season between autumn and spring when the weather is usually cold .
common cold
The common cold is a mild illness . If you have it, your nose is blocked or runny and you have a sore throat or a cough .
stone-cold
If something that should be warm is stone-cold , it is very cold.
freezing 可用于强调天气很冷，尤其是有霜冻的严冬。夏季如果气温低于平均温度，可以用 cool。通常，cold 表示的温度比 cool 低。cool 表示温度适宜、凉爽。 A cool breeze swept off the sea; it was pleasant out there. 如果非常 cool，或太 cool，可以用 chilly。
All related terms of 'cold'
the cold
寒冷天气(氣) hánlěng tiānqì
cold sore
唇(脣)疮(瘡)疹 chúnchuāngzhěn
it's cold
天气(氣)寒冷 tiānqì hánlěng
a cold snap
寒潮 háncháo
in cold blood
残(殘)忍地 cánrěn de
it's hot/cold
天热(熱)/冷 tiān rè/lěng
to feel cold
觉(覺)得冷 juéde lěng
it's bitterly cold
天气(氣)寒冷刺骨 tiānqì hánlěng cìgǔ
it's cold for July
对(對)7月而言这(這)算冷天了 duì qīyuè éryán zhè suàn lěngtiān le