n., v., & adj.
n. 1 a an unpleasant cold sensation; lowered body temperature. b a feverish cold (catch a chill). 2 unpleasant coldness (of air, water, etc.). 3 a a depressing influence (cast a chill over). b a feeling of fear or dread accompanied by coldness. 4 coldness of manner.
v. 1 tr. & intr. make or become cold. 2 tr. depress, dispirit. 3 tr. cool (food or drink); preserve by cooling. 4 tr. harden (molten metal) by contact with cold material.
adj. literary chilly. take the chill off warm slightly. chiller n. chillingly adv. chillness n. chillsome adj. literary.
[ OE cele, ciele, etc.: in mod. use the verb is the oldest (ME), and is of obscure orig. ]