warm
adj. · v. · n.-
1 temperature (adj.) A1 Beginnerhaving a pleasant heat that is not too hot.
characterized by a moderate degree of heat, typically perceived as comfortable or pleasant.
ExampleIt was a warm spring day, so we decided to have a picnic in the park.
ExampleThe baker checked the dough to ensure the water was warm enough to activate the yeast without killing it.
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2 friendly (adj.) A2 Elementaryfriendly, kind, and showing that you like someone.
demonstrating affection, kindness, or cordiality in interpersonal interactions.
ExampleThe hotel staff gave us a very warm welcome when we arrived.
ExampleDespite their professional rivalry, the two scientists maintained a warm relationship and frequently exchanged data.
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3 colors (adj.) B1 Intermediatedescribing colors like red, orange, and yellow.
referring to hues in the red, orange, and yellow part of the visible spectrum, often associated with heat.
ExampleShe chose warm colors for the living room to make it feel cozy.
ExampleThe artist used a palette of warm tones to capture the late afternoon sunlight hitting the sandstone cliffs.
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4 to heat up (v.) A2 Elementaryto make something warm or to become warm.
to increase the temperature of an object or environment; functions both transitively and intransitively.
ExampleYou can warm the soup on the stove for a few minutes.
ExampleAs the sun rose higher, the dark pavement began to warm, radiating heat back into the morning air.
- heat
- reheat
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5 to start liking (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateto start to like someone or something more than before.
to become more enthusiastic about or well-disposed toward a person or idea over time; often used with 'to'.
ExampleI didn't like the new manager at first, but I'm starting to warm to him.
ExampleThe public was initially skeptical of the tax reform, but they began to warm to the proposal once the benefits were explained.
UsageUsually takes the preposition 'to'.
- soften
- relent
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6 computing/internet (v.) C1 Advanced Technical Computingto prepare a system or email account so it is ready to work well.
to prepopulate a cache or establish a sender reputation for an email domain to ensure optimal performance.
ExampleWe need to warm the new email domain before sending the big newsletter.
ExampleEngineers spent the weekend warming the cache to ensure the system could handle the anticipated surge in traffic during the product launch.
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7 a state of heat (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informalthe act of making something warm or the feeling of heat.
the state of being warmed or the process of applying heat; often used colloquially.
ExampleCome sit by the fire and have a quick warm before you go back outside.
ExampleAfter hours of hiking through the snow, the hikers enjoyed a good warm by the hearth of the mountain cabin.
From Middle English warm, werm, from Old English wearm, from Proto-West Germanic warm, from Proto-Germanic warmaz, either from Proto-Indo-European wór-mo-s, from wer- (“to burn”), or Proto-Indo-European gʷʰor-mo-s, from the root gʷʰer- (“warm, hot”). Cognate with West Frisian waarm, Saterland Frisian woorm, Dutch warm, German warm, Swedish varm, Icelandic varmur, Ancient Greek θερμός (thermós) (in which case perhaps a distant doublet of thermos), Latin formus, Sanskrit घर्म (gharmá), or alternatively from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to burn”), related to Hittite 𒉿𒊏𒀀𒉌 (warāni, “to burn”), Armenian վառել (vaṙel, “to burn, heat, warm”), Old Church Slavonic варити (variti, “to cook, boil”).
From Middle English warmen, wermen, wyrmen, from Old English wierman (“to make warm”) and wearmian (“to become warm”), from Proto-West Germanic warmijan and warmōn. Cognate with Dutch warmen, German wärmen, Swedish värma.