chill

The word “chill” means an uncomfortable feeling of coldness. In plain terms, cold, or the feeling of cold — and, informally, being relaxed or relaxing.

“Chill” is pronounced chihl (/tʃɪl/ in IPA).

Here is “chill” used in a sentence: “There was a chill in the air as the sun went down.”

Depending on how it is used, “chill” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.

The word “chill” comes from Old English. From Old English ċiele, meaning cold, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to be cold" — the same root gave us "cool" and "cold".

“Chill” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

“Chill” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an uncomfortable feeling of coldness.

As a noun, chill is an uncomfortable feeling of coldness, often a mild or sudden one, while cold is the broader, general lack of warmth. A chill often suggests a shiver or a slight, penetrating coolness rather than deep cold. You might catch a chill from a draught, whereas cold describes the overall temperature.

Chill is informal and best suited to casual conversation, as in telling someone to chill or describing a chill atmosphere. Relax is neutral and works in both casual and formal settings. In writing or professional contexts, relax is the safer choice.

Chill as a noun means a feeling of coldness, while chilly is an adjective meaning unpleasantly cold. You might feel a chill, or say the weather is chilly. Chill can also mean relaxed in slang, a meaning chilly does not share.