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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for cold
The first known use of cold was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century