/ kɑːm; NAmE / adjective , verb , noun
■ adjective ( calm·er , calm·est )
1.
not excited, nervous or upset :
It is important to keep calm in an emergency.
Try to remain calm .
Her voice was surprisingly calm.
The city is calm again (= free from trouble and fighting) after yesterday's riots.
2.
( of the sea ) without large waves
3.
( of the weather ) without wind :
a calm, cloudless day
► calm·ly adverb :
'I'll call the doctor,' he said calmly.
► calm·ness noun [ U ]
■ verb
[ vn ] to make sb/sth become quiet and more relaxed, especially after strong emotion or excitement :
Have some tea; it'll calm your nerves.
His presence had a calming influence .
—see also traffic calming
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PHRASAL VERBS
- calm down | calm sb/sth down
■ noun [ C , U ]
1.
a quiet and peaceful time or situation :
the calm of a summer evening
The police appealed for calm .
2.
a quiet and relaxed manner :
Her previous calm gave way to terror.
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IDIOMS
- the calm before the storm
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WHICH WORD
calm / calmness
The noun calm is usually used to talk about a peaceful time or situation:
There was a short period of uneasy calm after the riot.
It can also be used to describe a person's manner:
She spoke with icy calm.
Calmness is usually used to talk about a person:
We admired his calmness under pressure.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via one of the Romance languages from Greek kauma heat (of the day).