cold
kohld
Cold (adj) means having a low temperature; not warm. Example: “I left my tea on the windowsill and by the time I returned it was cold.”
adj
1
Having a low temperature; not warm.
"I left my tea on the windowsill and by the time I returned it was cold."
"The water in the lake was freezing cold."
"Put your coat on, it's cold outside."
2
Unfriendly or emotionally distant; lacking warmth toward other people.
"The new neighbours seemed cold and never said hello when we passed in the street."
"His cold reply made it clear he wasn't interested."
"She gave him a cold stare and walked off."
3
Not prepared or warmed up; done without practice or introduction.
"He walked into the interview cold, with no idea what to expect."
"She gave a cold reading of the speech without any rehearsal."
"The comedian went on stage cold and still made everyone laugh."
noun
1
A common mild illness that causes a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and sometimes a sore throat.
"I stayed home from work because a cold had left me sneezing all day."
"She caught a cold from her nephew over the weekend."
"Drink plenty of fluids when you have a cold."
How to use cold
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLow temperature (weather, food, drink), or a personality that feels distant and unfeeling, or the sniffly illness everyone gets in winter.
Common mistake
Don't mix up having "a cold" (the illness) with feeling "cold" (the temperature) — "I have a cold" and "I feel cold" mean very different things.
Common pairings
stone cold
catch a cold
cold shoulder
go cold
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Word forms
- Plural
- colds
- Comparative
- colder, more cold
- Superlative
- coldest, most cold
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I left my tea on the windowsill and by the time I returned it was _____.
Etymology
From Old English cald/ceald, going back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Indo-European root meaning "cold" — the same root that gave German kalt and Swedish kall.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cold
See all rhymes for cold →Frequently asked questions
What does “cold” mean?
The word “cold” means having a low temperature; not warm. In plain terms, low temperature (weather, food, drink), or a personality that feels distant and unfeeling, or the sniffly illness everyone gets in winter.
How do you pronounce “cold”?
“Cold” is pronounced kohld (/koʊld/ in IPA).
How do you use “cold” in a sentence?
Here is “cold” used in a sentence: “The water in the lake was freezing cold.”
What is another word for “cold”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cold” include algid, Arctic, Baltic, boreal, brass monkeys and brumal.
What is the opposite of “cold”?
The opposite of “cold” — its antonyms — are hot and warm.
What part of speech is “cold”?
Depending on how it is used, “cold” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “cold” come from?
The word “cold” comes from Old English. From Old English cald/ceald, going back through Proto-Germanic to a very old Indo-European root meaning "cold" — the same root that gave German kalt and Swedish kall.
Is “cold” a common word?
“Cold” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between cold and cool?
Both describe low temperatures, but cool is milder and often pleasant, like a cool breeze on a warm day. Cold is stronger and can feel uncomfortable or even harsh. Cool sits between warm and cold on the scale, so something cool is only slightly chilled.
What is the opposite of cold?
The main opposite is hot, describing a high temperature. Warm is the gentler opposite, sitting between cold and hot. Which one fits depends on degree: a cold drink becomes warm at room temperature and hot when heated. In feelings, cold contrasts with warm or friendly.
What is the difference between cold and freezing?
Freezing is far more intense than cold. Cold simply means a low temperature that feels chilly, while freezing describes extreme cold, at or below the point where water turns to ice. People also say freezing loosely for any very cold conditions, even above zero degrees.
Can 'cold' describe a person or feeling?
Yes. Beyond temperature, cold often describes someone distant, unfeeling, or unfriendly, as in a cold stare or a cold reception. It can also mean unemotional or detached. This figurative use draws on the physical sense, linking low warmth to a lack of warmth in behaviour.
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