chilling
adj. · v. · n.-
1 scary or frightening (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediatefrightening in a way that makes you feel cold with fear.
causing a sudden feeling of horror or dread; often used to describe stories, crimes, or warnings.
ExampleThe witness gave a chilling account of what happened that night.
ExampleThe documentary offered a chilling glimpse into the mind of the killer, leaving the audience in stunned silence as the credits rolled.
- frightening
- scary
- eerie
- spine tingling
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2 making you cold (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediatecausing a feeling of physical cold.
producing a physical sensation of coldness or a drop in temperature.
ExampleA chilling wind blew through the open window all night.
ExampleThe chilling effect of the mountain air was immediate, forcing the hikers to stop and put on their thermal layers.
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3 cooling something down (v.) B1 Intermediatethe act of making something cold, like food or drink.
the present participle or gerund of 'chill', referring to the process of reducing the temperature of an object.
ExampleI am chilling the wine in the fridge before the guests arrive.
ExampleBy chilling the dough for thirty minutes before baking, you ensure that the cookies maintain their shape in the oven.
- cooling
- refrigerating
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4 the process of cooling (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Sciencethe process of making something cold.
the action or process of reducing the temperature of a substance, often in an industrial or culinary context.
ExampleThe rapid chilling of the metal makes it much stronger.
ExampleThe facility uses a specialised chilling system to maintain the stability of the chemical compounds during transport.
From Middle English chilling, chelling, chyllinge, chillynge, chillande, equivalent to chill + -ing.
From Middle English chilling, chillyng, chyllynge, equivalent to chill + -ing.