I. ˈkül adjective
Etymology: Middle English col, from Old English cōl; akin to Old High German kuoli cool, Old English ceald cold — more at cold
Date: before 12th century
1. : moderately cold : lacking in warmth
2.
a. : marked by steady dispassionate calmness and self-control
a cool and calculating administrator — Current Biography
b. : lacking ardor or friendliness
a cool impersonal manner
c. of jazz : marked by restrained emotion and the frequent use of counterpoint
d. : free from tensions or violence
meeting with minority groups in an attempt to keep the city cool
3. — used as an intensive
a cool million dollars
4. : marked by deliberate effrontery or lack of due respect or discretion
a cool reply
5. : facilitating or suggesting relief from heat
a cool dress
6.
a. of a color : producing an impression of being cool ; specifically : of a hue in the range violet through blue to green
b. of a musical tone : relatively lacking in timbre or resonance
7. slang
a. : very good : excellent ; also : all right
b. : fashionable , hip
not happy with the new shoes…because they were not cool — Celestine Sibley
• cool·ish ˈkü-lish adjective
• cool·ly also cooly ˈkü(l)-lē adverb
• cool·ness ˈkül-nəs noun
Synonyms:
cool , composed , collected , unruffled , imperturbable , nonchalant mean free from agitation or excitement. cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness
kept a cool head
composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition
the composed pianist gave a flawless concert
collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis
the nurse stayed calm and collected
unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement
harried but unruffled
imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation
the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling
nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern
a nonchalant driver
II. verb
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1. : to become cool : lose heat or warmth
placed the pie in the window to cool
— sometimes used with off or down
2. : to lose ardor or passion
his anger cool ed
transitive verb
1. : to make cool : impart a feeling of coolness to
cool ed the room with a fan
— often used with off or down
a swim cool ed us off a little
2.
a. : to moderate the heat, excitement, or force of : calm
cool ed her growing anger
b. : to slow or lessen the growth or activity of — usually used with off or down
wants to cool off the economy without freezing it — Newsweek
•
- cool it
- cool one's heels
III. noun
Date: 15th century
1. : a cool time, place, or situation
the cool of the evening
2.
a. : absence of excitement or emotional involvement : detachment
must surrender his fine cool and enter the closed crazy world of suicide — Wilfrid Sheed
b. : poise , composure
press questions…seemed to rattle him and he lost his cool — New Republic
3. : hipness
IV. adverb
Date: 1841
: in a casual and nonchalant manner
play it cool