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>