Cold

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /kəʊld/

Definitions

1. A low temperature condition or the feeling of lacking warmth, often causing discomfort or shivering
2. Having a temperature lower than usual or feeling chilled ; an illness caused by viruses resulting in sneezing, coughing, and congestion ; showing lack of warmth or friendliness in manner or attitude
3. Chilly or cool to the touch or environment ; a viral infection marked by congestion and sore throat ; emotionally aloof or distant towards others

Etymology: The Old English form of "cold" was split between two dialects. The Anglian form "cald" and the West Saxon form "ċeald" both descend from a Proto-Germanic verb, "kalaną," meaning "to be cold, to freeze." The word therefore began as a description of an action, the process of freezing, before it named a state. Its ancestry runs back to a Proto-Indo-European root, "gel-," which also gave Latin "gelū," meaning frost or chill. The word's relatives are spread across Germanic and beyond. German "kalt," Dutch "koud," Swedish "kall," and Icelandic "kaldur" all share the same root, as do Slavic words such as Russian "xólod" and Polish "chłód." Even Sanskrit "jaḍa," meaning cold or stiff, belongs to this family. Old English also had a noun "cald" for coldness, and the adverb "calde" meaning "coldly" came from the same adjective. The word "cool" is a close relative.

Synonyms: chilly, cool, frigid, icy, frosty

Antonyms: hot, warm, toasty, boiling, scorching