Main Entry: ¹cold

Pronunciation: \ˈkōld\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ceald, cald; akin to Old High German kalt cold, Latin gelu frost, gelare to freeze

Date: before 12th century

1 a : having or being a temperature that is uncomfortably low for humans <it is cold outside today> <a cold drafty attic> b : having a relatively low temperature or one lower than normal or expected <the bath water has gotten cold> c : not heated: as (1) of food : served without heating especially after initial cooking or processing <cold cereal> <cold roast beef> (2) : served chilled or with ice <a cold drink> (3) : involving processing without the use of heat <cold working of steel>
2 a : marked by a lack of the warmth of normal human emotion, friendliness, or compassion <a cold stare> <got a cold reception>; also : not moved to enthusiasm <the movie leaves me cold> b : not colored or affected by personal feeling or bias : detached, indifferent <cold chronicles recorded by an outsider — Andrew Sarris>; also : impersonal, objective <cold facts> <cold reality> c : marked by sure familiarity : pat <had her lines cold weeks before opening night>
3 : conveying the impression of being cold: as a : depressing, gloomy <cold gray skies> b : cool 6a
4 a : marked by the loss of normal body heat <cold hands>; especially : dead b : giving the appearance of being dead : unconscious <passed out cold>
5 a : having lost freshness or vividness : stale <dogs trying to pick up a cold scent> b : far off the mark : not close to finding or solving —used especially in children's games c : marked by poor or unlucky performance <the team's shooting turned cold in the second half> d : not prepared or suitably warmed up

— cold·ish \ˈkōld-ish\ adjective

— cold·ly \ˈkōl(d)-lē\ adverb

— cold·ness \ˈkōl(d)-nəs\ noun

— in cold blood : with premeditation : deliberately <was killed in cold blood>