Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense cold calls, present participle cold calling, past tense, past participle cold called
1. countable noun
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.
She had worked as a call centre operator making cold calls for time-share holidays.
2. verb
To cold call means to make a cold call.
You should refuse to meet anyone who cold calls with an offer of financial advice. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
cold callinguncountable noun
Cold calling has given the industry a bad name.
cold call in British English
noun
1.
a call made by a salesperson on a potential customer without making an appointment
verbcold-call
2.
to call on (a potential customer) without making an appointment
Derived forms
cold caller
noun
cold calling
noun
cold call in American English
a telephone call or visit made to a prospective customer without a referral, information sent in advance, etc.
: also ˈcold-ˌcallnoun
Derived forms
cold-call (ˈcold-ˌcall)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
Examples of 'cold call' in a sentence
cold call
He said the company had ended doorstep selling and telephone cold calling to homes as part of an overhaul of its sales practices.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It will include a guarantee it will not share any individual's details or make any cold calls.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The FSA also recommends that consumers avoid any investments offered by a cold call or unsolicited letter.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And, astonishingly to my mind, these companies are allowed to make cold calls to prospective clients.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
cold call
British English: cold call NOUN
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.
She had worked as a call centre operator making cold calls for time-share holidays.