Cool

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Pronunciation: /kuːl/

Definitions

1. Having a moderately low temperature that is noticeably less warm than usual ; showing calmness and self-control in difficult situations ; appearing stylish, attractive, or impressive in a way that is admired
2. Describing an environment or object that feels chilly but not freezing ; maintaining a relaxed and unflustered demeanor when faced with stress ; displaying an appealing or trendy quality that makes someone or something liked
3. Characterizing air or weather that is somewhat cold to the touch ; behaving with poise and emotional steadiness ; having a distinctive and attractive style or charm that earns approval

Etymology: Long before "cool" described a relaxed attitude or a fashionable jacket, it was simply the word for a temperature. Old English "cōl" meant "cool, cold, tranquil, calm," and it descends from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to be cold, to freeze," which also gave rise to German "kühl" and Dutch "koel." The sense of coolness as a pleasant, composed state of mind came later, as the word's physical meaning of chilly moderation extended to a calm, unruffled temper. The verb has a separate and rather tangled path. Its Old English ancestor "cōlian" meant "to cool, grow cold, be cold," and it survived into Middle English as "colen." A second, older verb, "cēlan," also meant "to cool," and over time it was reshaped to look like the adjective, so the verb "cool" we use today is partly a product of that merger.

Synonyms: chilly, refreshing, calm, collected, awesome

Antonyms: warm, hot, unfriendly, unfashionable, overheated