■ adjective
1》 of or at a fairly low temperature.
↘(especially of clothing) keeping one from becoming too hot.
2》 not excited, anxious, or emotional.
↘unfriendly or unenthusiastic.
↘(of jazz) restrained and relaxed.
3》 informal fashionably attractive or impressive.
↘excellent.
↘used to express acceptance or agreement.
4》 ( a ~ —— ) informal used to emphasize the size of a sum of money: they pocketed a ~ $1 million each.
■ noun ( the ~ ) a ~ temperature, place, or time.
■ verb
1》 become or make less hot.
2》 become less emotional or enthusiastic.
Phrases
keep (or lose ) one's ~ informal maintain (or fail to maintain) a calm and controlled attitude.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
OE cōl (n.), cōlian (v.), of Gmc origin; related to cold .