cold-water

1 of 2

adjective

cold-wa·​ter ˈkōld-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: having only running water without heat or utility services provided

a cold-water flat

cold water

2 of 2

noun

: depreciation of something as being ill-advised, unwarranted, or worthless

threw cold water on our hopes

Examples of cold-water in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

With 41% of Americans still defaulting to hot, watch for whether that share drops as energy costs rise and cold-water messaging from brands and utilities increases. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026

Allied attributed the result partly to on-site solar power, cold-water detergents and a reclamation system that recirculates 95 percent of the plant’s water. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Noun

Warm water, put simply, expands, whereas cold water takes up less space. — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Place in a large pot or bowl, cover with cold water, and soak for at least 5 hours or preferably overnight to draw out the excess blood. — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1808, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cold-water

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• groundwater
• headwater