# Baltic

/ˈbɔɫtɪk/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/baltic
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

extremely cold. You use this to describe weather or a room that feels freezing.

For teachers: characterised by extreme cold or freezing temperatures. Informal in register and primarily used in British and Irish English.

## Examples

- Close the window; it's absolutely baltic in here.
- We decided to skip the walk because it was baltic outside and the wind was biting.
- While the locals seemed unbothered by the plummeting temperatures, the tourists found the coastal wind absolutely baltic and retreated to the nearest heated café.

## Pitfalls

- Not "It is very Baltic today." but "It is baltic today." — When used to mean 'freezing', the word is usually not capitalised, unlike the proper noun referring to the Baltic Sea.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the intensifier 'absolutely'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.