[cool] adj [ME col, fr. OE col; akin to OHG kuoli cool, OE ceald cold--more at cold] (bef. 12c) 1: moderately cold: lacking in warmth
2. a: marked by steady dispassionate calmness and self-control "a ~ and calculating administrator --Current Biog." b: lacking ardor or friendliness "a ~ 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 ~" 3--used as an intensive "a ~ million dollars"
4: marked by deliberate effrontery or lack of due respect or discretion "a ~ reply"
5: facilitating or suggesting relief from heat "a ~ dress"
6. a of a color: producing an impression of being cool; specif: 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 1 -- cool.ish adj -- cool.ly also cooly adv -- cool.ness n syn 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 esp. 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".
[2]cool vi (bef. 12c) 1: to become cool: lose heat or warmth "placed the pie in the window to ~"--sometimes used with off or down
2: to lose ardor or passion "his anger ~ed" ~ vt 1: to make cool: impart a feeling of coolness to "~ed the room with a fan"--often used with off or down "a swim ~ed us off a little"
2. a: to moderate the heat, excitement, or force of: calm "~ed her growing anger" b: to slow or lessen the growth or activity of--usu. used with off or down "wants to ~ off the economy without freezing it --Newsweek" -- cool it : to calm down: go easy "the word went out to the young to cool it --W. M. Young" -- cool one's heels : to wait or be kept waiting for a long time esp. from or as if from disdain or discourtesy [3]cool n (15c) 1: a cool time, place, or situation "the ~ of the evening"
2. a: absence of excitement or emotional involvement: detachment "must surrender his fine ~ and enter the closed crazy world of suicide --Wilfrid Sheed" b: poise, composure "press questions ... seemed to rattle him and he lost his ~ --New Republic" [4]cool adv (1951): in a casual and nonchalant manner "play it ~"