Definition of cold war
1
: a conflict over ideological differences carried on by methods short of sustained overt military action and usually without breaking off diplomatic relations
specifically, often capitalized C&W
: the ideological conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the second half of the 20th century — compare hot war
2
: a condition of rivalry, mistrust, and often open hostility short of violence especially between power groups (such as labor and management)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for cold war
The first known use of cold war was in 1945
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