(~er, ~est, ~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Something that is ~ has a temperature which is low but not very low.
I felt a current of ~ air...
The vaccines were kept ~ in refrigerators.
? warm
ADJ
2.
If it is ~, or if a place is ~, the temperature of the air is low but not very low.
Thank goodness it’s ~ in here...
Store grains and cereals in a ~, dry place.
...a ~ November evening.
? warm
ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ
•
Cool is also a noun.
She walked into the ~ of the hallway.
N-SING: the N, oft N of n
3.
Clothing that is ~ is made of thin material so that you do not become too hot in hot weather.
In warm weather, you should wear clothing that is ~ and comfortable.
? warm
ADJ
4.
Cool colours are light colours which give an impression of ~ness.
Choose a ~ colour such as cream...
? warm
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
When something ~s or when you ~ it, it becomes lower in temperature.
Drain the meat and allow it to ~...
Huge fans will have to ~ the concrete floor to keep it below 150 degrees.
...a ~ing breeze.
VERB: V, V n, V-ing
•
To ~ down means the same as to ~ .
Avoid putting your car away until the engine has ~ed down...
The other main way the body ~s itself down is by panting.
PHRASAL VERB: V P, V n P
6.
When a feeling or emotion ~s, or when you ~ it, it becomes less powerful.
Within a few minutes tempers had ~ed...
His weird behaviour had ~ed her passion.
VERB: V, V n
7.
If you say that a person or their behaviour is ~, you mean that they are calm and unemotional, especially in a difficult situation.
He was marvelously ~ again, smiling as if nothing had happened...
= calm
ADJ approval
~ly
Everyone must think this situation through calmly and ~ly.
...~ly ‘objective’ professionals.
ADV
8.
If you say that a person or their behaviour is ~, you mean that they are unfriendly or not enthusiastic.
I didn’t like him at all. I thought he was ~, aloof, and arrogant...
The idea met with a ~ response...
ADJ
~ly
‘It’s your choice, Nina,’ David said ~ly.
ADV: usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
9.
If you say that a person or their behaviour is ~, you mean that they are fashionable and attractive. (INFORMAL)
He was trying to be really ~ and trendy.
ADJ approval
10.
If you say that someone is ~ about something, you mean that they accept it and are not angry or upset about it. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
Bev was really ~ about it all.
ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n approval
11.
If you say that something is ~, you think it is very good. (INFORMAL)
Kathleen gave me a really ~ dress.
= neat
ADJ
12.
You can use ~ to emphasize that an amount or figure is very large, especially when it has been obtained easily. (INFORMAL)
Columbia recently re-signed the band for a ~ $30 million.
ADJ: ADJ n emphasis
13.
If you keep your ~ in a difficult situation, you manage to remain calm. If you lose your ~, you get angry or upset. (INFORMAL)
She kept her ~ and managed to get herself out of the ordeal...
PHRASE: V inflects
14.
If you play it ~, you deliberately behave in a calm, unemotional way because you do not want people to know you are enthusiastic or angry about something. (INFORMAL)
It’s ridiculous to play it ~ if someone you’re mad about is mad about you too.
PHRASE: V inflects
15.
as ~ as a cucumber: see cucumber