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cold

cold

∞ 1.0
Having a low temperature that feels chilly
  • adjective
  • /koʊld/
: frío
  • She wrapped herself in a blanket because she felt cold in the drafty room.
  • hot and cold
  • cold weather
  • cold water

We touch warm and hot and cold things all the time.

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Examples

  • This dinner is getting cold.

  • I don't think I've ever been that cold in my life.

  • We touch warm and hot and cold things all the time.

  • And it is so cold, So cold.

  • It's gonna be cold up there.

  • I felt incredibly cold just in my chest.

  • It was dark, it was cold, it was winter in Boston.

  • They join us from a cold and wintry New York.

  • It is the biggest, it's the coldest place in the world.

  • Afterward, patients were instructed to apply cold compresses to the area for comfort.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

freezing
vscold
156 1.0

So cold that water turns to ice

is a general low temperature not necessarily at or below that point
chilly
vscold
112 1.0

A bit cold in a way that feels uncomfortable

is stronger, referring to any low temperature including severe ones
ice-cold
vscold
42 1.0

Very cold, like frozen water

is less intense, meaning a normal low temperature rather than extreme
frigid
vscold
34 4.1

Very cold, like ice or freezing air

is milder and describes normal low temperature instead of very severe lack of warmth
freezing cold
vscold
25 1.3

Very cold, at or below freezing

is milder, used for ordinary low temperature rather than severe and painful
stone-cold
vscold
22 4.1

Very cold with no warmth left

is less absolute, meaning simply lower temperature rather than total loss of warmth
chilled
vscold
18 2.2

Being relaxed and calm or made cold

is purely descriptive of temperature not the relaxed or calm mood sense
bone-chilling
vscold
6 7.0

Very cold or scary

focuses on causing a physical shiver or dread not just lower temperature
shivery
vscold
1 4.2

Feeling very cold and trembling slightly

is about temperature itself rather than the body's reflex response to it
cold as a witch's tit
vscold
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Very cold in a way that feels unpleasant

is neutral and lacks the humorous or vulgar informal tone
cold as balls
vscold
  • Offensive
1 9.9

People say this to mean very cold in a joking, exaggerated way

is more formal or neutral not relying on coarse slang for emphasis
subzero
vscold
1 5.5

Very cold in behavior, showing no warmth or friendliness

focuses only on physical low temperature rather than on unemotional attitude
ultracold
vscold
1 5.6

Much colder than normal, for example in special freezers or very cold weather

covers everyday low temperatures rather than those far below usual ranges
perishingly cold
vscold
  • Informal
1 7.2

Very cold in a way that makes being outside difficult

is less severe, covering ordinary low temperatures rather than unbearable ones
parky
vscold
  • UK
1 9.1

Feeling quite cold, often said about the weather

is more general and not marked by regional informality or outdoor reference

Antonyms

hot
∞ 1.0

Having a high temperature and able to burn your skin

Idioms

54 7.1

Calmly and without pity when doing something violent

cold feet
  • Informal
46 4.3

A sudden feeling of fear or doubt that stops you doing something planned

stone cold
  • Informal
30 3.6

Very cold with no warmth

cold turkey
  • Informal
25 6.7

Suddenly stopping a habit or drug completely without cutting down first

out cold
  • Informal
22 6.9

Unconscious or sleeping very deeply

cold shoulder
  • Informal
13 4.6

To ignore someone on purpose to show you dislike them

out in the cold
  • Informal
12 7.4

Left out by a group of people

9 8.2

Stop a habit or addiction all at once

knocked out cold
  • Informal
9 7.2

Completely unconscious after a hard hit to the head

cold fish
  • Offensive
6 7.6

A person who is distant and not friendly

cold day in Hell
  • Informal
5 9.4

An event that is very unlikely to happen

4 8.1

Feel sudden, strong fear or shock

hot and cold
  • Informal
4 6.8

A person who feels interested one moment and not interested the next

cold as ice
  • Informal
4 7.2

Not showing any feeling or kindness to others

stone cold sober
  • Informal
3 5.6

Not affected by alcohol or drugs at all

2 8.1

To feel very excited about something and then lose interest often

2 7.4

To say things that make people less excited about a plan

To return to a safe or accepted group after being left out

1 8.4

To change your feelings or opinion often and without warning

1 9.9

Very cold in a way that feels unpleasant

cold as balls
  • Offensive
1 9.9

People say this to mean very cold in a joking, exaggerated way

cold as charity
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Acting kind but not showing real care

9.9

Showing no warmth or feeling

A deep feeling of cold that goes into the body

Compounds

234 3.5

A long period of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union without direct fighting

42 1.0

Very cold, like frozen water

42 1.0

A period when the air is much colder than usual

25 1.3

Very cold, at or below freezing

22 4.1

Very cold with no warmth left

cold front
  • Specialized
21 3.3

A line of colder air moving into warmer air

19 1.1

A mild virus infection of the nose and throat that causes a runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat

cold fusion
  • Specialized
16 8.9

A claimed way to make energy by joining parts of atoms at room temperature that most scientists do not accept

15 3.7

A sweat that appears while you feel cold because you are scared or ill

14 3.6

A long time of tense relations between countries without open fighting

12 3.9

Money in notes and coins that you can use right away

12 2.0

Sliced meats like turkey or ham served cold for sandwiches and platters

11 3.2

Small painful blisters on the lips or around the mouth that a virus causes

A medicine that relieves cold symptoms like cough or blocked nose

7 3.2

A short sudden time of very cold weather that is colder than usual

cold water
  • Informal
7 6.3

Words or actions that make people less excited about a plan

6 3.7

A place that keeps food or goods very cold to stop them from spoiling

6 1.8

A mild viral sickness that makes your nose stuffy, causes sneezing, and may give you a headache

cold-blooded
  • Specialized
5 3.7

An animal whose body temperature changes with the air or water temperature

5 7.2

A small thing that does little to make you feel better after something bad

cold sober
  • Informal
4 6.2

Completely free of alcohol or drugs

cold hand
  • Literature
3 8.2

An unfriendly touch or a feeling that danger is near

3 3.3

A thick, soft cream that cleans the face and keeps the skin soft

3 4.6

A fixed unfriendly look that shows anger or disapproval

3 3.5

A short period of unusually cold weather

2 1.0

A breakfast food eaten without heating, usually served with milk

cold-water flat
  • Archaic
1 8.8

An apartment in an old building that has no hot running water or central heating

cold frame
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A low box with a clear top that protects young plants from cold and helps them grow

cold shower
  • Informal
1 5.1

A sudden event that shocks or disappoints someone

cold-temperate
  • Specialized
1 6.5

Climates or waters in the cooler parts of temperate regions

1 4.0

A long period of much colder than usual weather that affects a large area

cold cathode
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A part inside some lamps and electronic devices that gives out electrons without being heated

A calm way of behaving in stressful situations

cold storage
  • Informal
1 4.9

A state in which a plan or project is left unused for later

cold treatment
  • Specialized
1 3.6

Applying cold to the body reduces pain and swelling

1 7.0

A metal tool for cutting and breaking stone or brick without heating

cold rubber
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A man-made rubber made at low temperatures that is tougher and used for car tires

cold medium
  • Archaic
1 8.8

A way of communicating that gives little detail and asks the audience to imagine the rest

cold-bloodedness
  • Offensive
1 6.7

Not showing pity and acting cruel, or having a body temperature that changes with the air

cold storage
  • Specialized
1 4.4

Low-cost storage for computer data that is rarely used

1 4.7

Very low in temperature and clearly unfriendly

cold duck
  • Archaic
1 9.3

A pink sparkling wine that people make by mixing red and white wines and serve cold

perishingly cold
  • Informal
1 7.2

Very cold in a way that makes being outside difficult

cold gangrene
  • Specialized
7.6

When blood stops flowing to a body part, the tissue dies and becomes dry and dark brown

7.2

A frozen treat on a stick like a popsicle that you eat to cool down

A decision made without feeling or pity that harms people

cold spell
  • Jargon
8.1

A magic power that makes very cold air and freezes people or things

A tomato hollowed out and filled with a salad, served cold

How Cold

freezing
156 1.0
frigid
34 4.1
cold
∞ 1.0
chilly
112 1.0
cool
7 1.0

Surface Forms

cold positive
colder comparative
coldest superlative

Etymology

Cold comes from an old German word ceald meaning 'cold', so its original idea is low temperature and that is exactly how we use it for feeling or things that are cool.