I. ˈkōld adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ceald, cald; akin to Old High German kalt cold, Latin gelu frost, gelare to freeze
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : 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: 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
2.
a. : 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: as
a. : depressing , gloomy
cold gray skies
b. : cool 6a
4.
a. : marked by the loss of normal body heat
cold hands
especially : dead
b. : giving the appearance of being dead : unconscious
passed out cold
5.
a. : 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
• cold·ish ˈkōld-ish adjective
• cold·ly ˈkōl(d)-lē adverb
• cold·ness ˈkōl(d)-nəs noun
•
- in cold blood
II. noun
Date: 13th century
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
3. : a bodily disorder popularly associated with chilling ; specifically : common cold
•
- out in the cold
III. adverb
Date: 1889
1. : with utter finality : absolutely , completely
turned down cold
also : abruptly
stopped them cold
2.
a. : 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