cold
Derived from Old English 'cald', from Proto-Germanic '*kalda', from Proto-Indo-European '*gel-' meaning 'to freeze' or 'to be cold'.
A common viral infection of the nose and throat that causes symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat. This is often referred to as 'the common cold'. Alternatively, it refers to a low temperature or a sensation of low temperature. In Spanish, while 'resfriado' directly translates to the illness, and 'frío' can refer to the low temperature, the broader concept of 'cold' as a general state of low temperature or an environment's low temperature can sometimes be untranslatable as a single noun without further context, often requiring a descriptive phrase.
| plural |
|---|
| colds |
- I caught a cold after walking in the rain without an umbrella. — I became ill with a common cold after getting wet in the rain.
- The cold really made my fingers numb. — The low temperature caused my fingers to lose sensation.
- She has been suffering from a bad cold for days. — She has been ill with a severe common cold for several days.
Having a low temperature; not warm or hot. It can also describe a person's lack of warmth or friendliness, or a color that suggests coolness.
| comparative | superlative |
|---|---|
| colder | coldest |
- The water in the lake was surprisingly cold. — The lake water had a surprisingly low temperature.
- She gave me a cold stare when I mentioned his name. — Her gaze was unfriendly and lacking warmth when I brought up his name.
- Please close the window, I'm cold. — I feel a low temperature and need the window closed.
In a cold manner; without warmth or friendliness; or in a way that suggests a low temperature. It is often used to describe actions done in an unemotional or detached way.