1
cold
/ˈkoʊld/
adjective
colder;
coldest
colder;
coldest
Britannica Dictionary definition of COLD
1
:
having a very low temperature
-
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/freezing cold out there!
-
a cold, rainy day
-
metal that is cold to the touch
-
Her hands were icy cold. = They were as cold as ice.
2
:
having a feeling of low body heat
3
b
of drinks
:
served at a very low temperature or with ice
4
:
not appealing or pleasant
:
causing a cold or unhappy feeling
5
:
not friendly or emotional
:
lacking emotional warmth
-
Why is he so cold and distant toward me?
-
She gave me a cold stare and turned away.
-
I got a cold reception when I came home.
6
:
not changed or affected by personal feelings or emotions
-
Like them or not, these are the cold facts!
-
It's time they took a cold, hard look at the situation.
7
:
learned or memorized exactly
—
used with have
8
:
unconscious or sleeping very deeply
—
usually used in the phrase out cold
—
see also knock cold at 1knock
9
:
not fresh or strong
:
no longer easy to follow
-
The dogs picked up a cold scent.
-
The police had been hot on the trail of the escaped prisoners, but then the trail went cold.
10
:
not close to finding something or solving a puzzle
—
used especially in children's games
11
:
not having success or good luck
blow hot and cold
—
see 1blow
cast a cold eye on
—
see 1eye
in cold blood
—
see blood
in the cold light of day
:
in the day when things can be seen clearly rather than at night
—
sometimes used figuratively
leave you cold
◊ Something that leaves you cold does not interest or excite you.
make someone's blood run cold
—
see blood
pour/throw cold water on
—
see water
— coldness
noun
[noncount]
2
cold
/ˈkoʊld/
noun
plural
colds
plural
colds
Britannica Dictionary definition of COLD
1
[noncount]
:
a cold condition
-
I mind cold more than heat.
-
They died of exposure to cold.
-
She was shivering with cold. [=because she was cold]
2
the cold
:
cold weather
-
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.
3
[count]
:
a common illness that affects the nose, throat, and eyes and that usually causes coughing, sneezing, etc.
-
It's not the flu, it's just a cold.
-
He got/caught a cold. = He came down with a cold. = (Brit) He went down with a cold.
-
the common cold
—
often used before another noun
-
the cold virus
-
cold symptoms/remedies
—
see also head cold
blue with cold, blue from the cold
—
see 1blue
come in from the cold
:
to become part of a group or of normal society again after you have been outside it
leave (someone) out in the cold
:
to leave (someone) in a bad position
:
to not give (someone) the rights or advantages that are given to others
3
cold
/ˈkoʊld/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of COLD
1
chiefly US
a
:
in a very clear, complete, and definite way
2
:
without practicing or preparing before doing something