\ ˈkōld
\
\
Definition of cold
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: 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: such 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
2a
: 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: such as
a
: depressing, gloomy
cold gray skies
b
: cool sense 6a
4a
: marked by the loss of normal body heat
cold hands
especially
: dead
… she lay cold and still—she was gone … — Upton Sinclair
b
: giving the appearance of being dead : unconscious
passed out cold
5a
: 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
The player's sub entered the game cold.
in cold blood
: with premeditation : deliberately
was killed in cold blood
cold
nounDefinition of cold (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: bodily sensation produced by loss or lack of heat
they died of the cold
2
: a condition of low temperature
extremes of heat and cold
especially
: cold weather
He waited outside for her in the bitter cold.
3
: a bodily disorder popularly associated with chilling
specifically
: common cold
She came down with a cold.
out in the cold
: deprived of benefits given others
the plan benefits management but leaves labor out in the cold
cold
adverbDefinition of cold (Entry 3 of 3)
2a
: without introduction or advance notice
walked in cold to apply for a job
b
: without preparation or warm-up
was asked to perform the solo cold
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from cold
Adjective
coldish
\
ˈkōld-ish
\
adjective
\
adjective
coldly
\
ˈkōl(d)-lē
\
adverb
\
adverb
coldness
\
ˈkōl(d)-nəs
\
noun
\
noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for cold
Synonyms: Adjective
- algid,
- arctic,
- bitter,
- bone-chilling,
- chill,
- chilly,
- coldish,
- cool,
- coolish,
- freezing,
- frigid,
- frosty,
- gelid,
- glacial,
- ice-cold,
- icy,
- nipping,
- nippy,
- numbing,
- polar,
- shivery,
- snappy,
- wintry
- (also wintery)
Synonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Adjective
- ardent,
- blazing,
- boiling,
- broiling,
- burning,
- fervent,
- fervid,
- fiery,
- glowing,
- hot,
- igneous,
- molten,
- piping hot,
- red-hot,
- roasting,
- scalding,
- scorching,
- searing,
- seething,
- sizzling,
- sultry,
- sweltering,
- torrid,
- ultrahot,
- warming,
- white-hot
Antonyms: Noun
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of cold in a Sentence
Adjective
The water was too cold for swimming.
The weather has been unusually cold this spring.
a country with a cold climate
It was a long, cold winter.
It's cold outside, but the wind makes it feel even colder.
It's bitterly cold out there!
metal that is cold to the touch
Are you cold? I could turn up the temperature if you'd like.
a bowl of cold cereal
He ate cold pizza for breakfast.
Noun
I mind cold more than heat.
They died of exposure to cold.
The cold really sets in around late November and doesn't let up until April.
I stood there shivering in the cold.
He waited outside for her in the bitter cold.
Come in out of the cold.
It's not the flu, it's just a cold.
Adverb
She was asked to perform the song cold.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Beverages are Mexican Coca-Cola — with cane sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup — agua frescas from strawberries, hibiscus and lime, cold brew, virgin sangria and Jarritos sodas.
—
Susan Dunne, courant.com, 4 Oct. 2021
Wake up with a potent cold brew from Doce Cuarenta café, then hit the road early to enjoy the calm, Caribbean-esque waters of Playa Balandra, 40 minutes outside of La Paz.
—
Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2021
Don’t stock up on firewood—a cold winter is unlikely to threaten Americans’ home heating needs, says Richard Redash, head of global gas planning at S&P Global Platts.
—
Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2021
The Primula is always really affordable, and it's been our favorite cold-brew coffee maker for a few years now.
—
Jess Grey, Wired, 1 Oct. 2021
The instantly recognizable scent lingers outside Scandinavian cafes and is hard to resist on a cold winter’s day.
—
David Nikel, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
This comes after a cold winter in which much of the population was huddled indoors due to lockdown measures.
—
NBC News, 24 Sep. 2021
That's especially true in cold-winter areas, says Enfield.
—
Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2021
On the one hand, demand has rebounded in 2021, as the region (and the world) have lurched out of the COVID-19 pandemic—and this was paired with an unusually cold 2020/21 winter.
—
Katherine Dunn, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The international market for non-HFC cooling equipment is heating up, but with major markets like China and India ratifying Kigali this year, companies in nations that have not ratified the treaty could be left out in the cold.
—
Energy Innovation: Policy And Technology, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021
Foreign investors are more likely to be left out in the cold.
—
NBC News, 23 Sep. 2021
In the meantime, their comrades in the ninth barrack are punished for their disappearance, forced to spend days and nights standing in the cold — a routine broken by punitive acts of violence by a Nazi officer.
—
Scott Tobias, Variety, 21 Sep. 2021
LaBelle and Hendrix each landed solo deals with Epic, but Dash was left out in the cold, at least at first.
—
David Browne, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2021
As the House Small Business Committee meets to consider a $3.5 trillion budget blueprint, businesses that were left out in the cold are detailing their predicament.
—
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2021
Measuring his contributions to baseball with the standard stats and metrics leaves old Lefty out in the cold, Hall of Fame-wise.
—
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Sep. 2021
Warren, a World War II veteran who turned 90 in September, lived in the woods along the Oak Leaf Trail bike path until sleeping in the cold got to be too much for his old bones.
—
jsonline.com, 1 Sep. 2021
Don't be left out in the cold and miss your chance to shop this popular top.
—
Lauren Rearick, PEOPLE.com, 25 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb
The reptile likely ended up this way after being cold-stunned, a type of hypothermia that can develop in sea turtles caught in ocean water that rapidly declines in temperature.
—
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 16 Sep. 2021
The world’s No. 1 player, looking every bit the part, teamed with Ryder Cup record-setter Sergio Garcia to win foursomes in the morning and then hold out to beat Brooks Koepka and cold-putting Jordan Spieth in fourballs.
—
Doug Ferguson, courant.com, 26 Sep. 2021
Pure Kitchen is a must visit when in Ottawa, at the very least to get your healthy cold-pressed juice fix.
—
Miriam Porter, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021
In a street brawl, a man is knocked to a bench and cold-cocked.
—
Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, 16 July 2021
Garrett Boorojian, managing partner at WaveCapital Partners, has used cold-calling for years to reach clients.
—
Shama Hyder, Forbes, 19 June 2021
Both stylists recommend using cold-pressed virgin coconut oil that is raw and unfiltered to maximize the benefits.
—
Maya Allen, Marie Claire, 16 July 2021
Suja touts being the first juice company to offer organic, cold-pressed juice for under $4.
—
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2021
It can be baked, served as raw sashimi and cold-smoked.
—
Jeff Kart, Forbes, 17 June 2021
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Buying Guide
Our team at The Usage has selected the best smart thermostats of 2021.
Learn More About cold
Statistics for cold
Last Updated
9 Oct 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Cold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold. Accessed 20 Oct. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Seen & Heard
People are talking about
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for cold
cold
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of cold
(Entry 1 of 3)
: having a very low temperature
: having a feeling of low body heat
: not heated
cold
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of cold (Entry 2 of 3)
: a cold condition
: cold weather
: a common illness that affects the nose, throat, and eyes and that usually causes coughing, sneezing, etc.
cold
adverbEnglish Language Learners Definition of cold (Entry 3 of 3)
: in a very clear, complete, and definite way
: in a sudden way
: without practicing or preparing before doing something
See the full definition for cold in the English Language Learners Dictionary
cold
adjective
\ ˈkōld
\
\
colder; coldest
Kids Definition of cold
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: having a low temperature or one much below normal
a cold day
2
: suffering from lack of warmth
I feel cold.
3
: cooled after being cooked
We ate cold chicken.
4
: served at a low temperature or with ice
Have a cold drink.
5
: lacking warmth of feeling : unfriendly
She's been cold to me ever since our disagreement.
in cold blood
: with planning beforehand
cold
nounKids Definition of cold (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: a condition of low temperature : cold weather
I can't stand the cold.
2
: the bodily feeling produced by lack of warmth : chill
He was shivering with cold.
3
: common cold
cold
adjective
\ ˈkōld
\
\
Medical Definition of cold
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: having or being a temperature that is noticeably lower than body temperature and especially that is uncomfortable for humans
a cold drafty room
b
: having a relatively low temperature or one that is lower than normal or expected
the bath water has gotten cold
c
: receptive to the sensation of coldness : stimulated by cold
a cold spot is a typical receptor in higher vertebrates
2
: marked by the loss of normal body heat
cold hands
3
: dead
4
: exhibiting little or no radioactivity
Other Words from cold
coldness
\
ˈkōl(d)-nəs
\
noun
\
noun
cold
nounMedical Definition of cold (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: bodily sensation produced by loss or lack of heat
2
: a bodily disorder popularly associated with chilling:
COLD
abbreviationMedical Definition of COLD (Entry 3 of 3)
Test Your Vocabulary
Farm Idioms Quiz
-
- What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Name that Thing: Musical Instruments
Can you correctly identify these musical instrume...
Take the quiz
-
Surprising Latin American Origins Behind Everyday Words
What treat did the Aztecs refer to as "bitter wat...
Take the quiz
-
True or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quiz
Share cold
Time Traveler for cold
The first known use of cold was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century