English Reference
adjective · noun · adverb

cold

adj. · n. · adv.
US /ˈkoʊɫd/ UK /kˈəʊld/ cold UK spelling colds

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    adj.having a low temperature, like ice or a winter day.

    adj.having a low temperature; lacking heat or warmth relative to the human body.

    Simple

    It is very cold outside, so you should wear a heavy coat.

    In context

    The arctic air mass brought a cold front that plummeted temperatures well below freezing within a matter of hours.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    adj.not showing any kindness or emotion.

    adj.lacking affection, warmth, or enthusiasm; emotionally distant or unfriendly.

    Simple

    He gave me a cold look when I interrupted his meeting.

    In context

    Her response was cold and professional, leaving no room for the personal reconciliation he had hoped to achieve.

    aloofdistantunfeeling
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.doing something without any practice or warning.

    adj.without prior preparation, warming up, or introduction.

    Simple

    I had to give the presentation cold because the other speaker was late.

    In context

    The actor was asked to read the script cold during the audition to test his natural instincts for the character.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Slang

    adj.very cool or impressive.

    adj.denoting something that is impressive, stylish, or excellent.

    Simple

    That new car he bought is absolutely cold.

    In context

    The producer dropped a cold beat that immediately caught the attention of everyone in the studio.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    adj.describes computer data that is not used very often.

    adj.referring to data that is infrequently accessed and can be moved to slower, cheaper storage media.

    Simple

    We move cold data to a different server to save money.

    In context

    The system automatically migrates cold files to long-term cloud storage to optimise the performance of the primary database.

    hot
  6. 06 A1 Beginner Medicine

    n.a common illness that makes you cough and sneeze.

    n.a common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract.

    Simple

    I stayed home from work because I caught a bad cold.

    In context

    The child was sent home from school after showing symptoms of a common cold, including a persistent cough and congestion.

    Pitfall
    I have a flu. I have a cold.

    In English, we usually say 'a cold' for minor illness, but 'the flu' for the more serious virus.

    sniffles
  7. 07 A2 Elementary

    n.a state of being cold or a cold environment.

    n.the sensation or condition of low temperature.

    Simple

    Don't stand out there in the cold; come inside.

    In context

    The explorers struggled against the bitter cold of the mountain peak as the sun began to set.

    chillcoldness
  8. 08 C1 Advanced Informal

    adv.doing something completely without getting ready first.

    adv.in a manner that lacks preparation or a preliminary warm-up.

    Simple

    She walked into the exam cold and still managed to pass.

    In context

    Starting the engine cold in sub-zero temperatures can cause significant wear to the internal components over time.

Usage cold winters · cold front · cold war

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated