From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcoldcold1 /kəʊld $ koʊld/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative colder, superlative coldest) 1 OBJECTS/SURFACES/LIQUIDS/ROOMS ETCCOLDobjects/surfaces/liquids/rooms something that is cold has a low temperature OPP hot → coldness She splashed her face with cold water. a blast of cold air We slept on the cold ground. The house felt cold and empty.ice/stone/freezing cold (=very cold) The radiator is stone cold; isn’t the heating working?go/get cold (=become cold) My tea’s gone cold. Come and eat or your dinner will get cold!2 WEATHERCOLDweather when there is cold weather, the temperature of the air is very low OPP hot → coldness It was so cold this morning I had to scrape the ice off my windshield. The day was bitterly cold. The hut sheltered her from the cold wind.cold winter/evening/January etc the coldest winter on recordcold out/outside It was raining and freezing cold outside. The weather gets colder around the middle of October.turn/grow cold (=become cold or colder, especially suddenly) The nights grew colder.3 → be/feel/look/get cold4 FOOD EATEN COLDEATfood cold food is cooked but not eaten hot a plate of cold meats a cold buffet Serve the potatoes cold.5 LACKING FEELINGEMOTIONALlacking feeling unfriendly or lacking normal human feelings such as sympathy, pity, humour etc OPP warm → coldly, coldness Martin was really cold towards me at the party. His voice was as cold as ice. She gave him a cold stare. a cold calculated murder► see thesaurus at unfriendly6 → get/have cold feet7 → give somebody the cold shoulder8 LIGHT/COLOURCOLOUR/COLORlight/colour a cold colour or light reminds you of things that are cold OPP warm → coldness the cold light of a fluorescent tube 9 → in the cold light of day10 → cold (hard) cash11 → leave somebody cold12 → take/need a cold shower13 → somebody’s trail/scent is cold14 GAMEDGin games [not before noun] used in children’s games, to say that someone is far away from the hidden object or answer they are trying to find You’re getting colder!15 → cold facts16 → cold steel → in cold blood at blood1(3), → cold fish at fish1(8), → blow hot and cold at blow1(21), → cold comfort at comfort1(7), → pour cold water over/on at pour(6), → a cold sweat at sweat2(3)COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: when there is cold weather, the temperature of the air is very lowcold + NOUNcold weatherMore cold weather is expected later this week.a cold night/dayIt was a cold night with a starlit sky.a cold winterA cold winter will increase oil consumption.a cold windA cold wind was blowing from the north.a cold spell (=a period of cold weather, especially a short one)We’re currently going through a bit of a cold spell.a cold snap (=a short period of very cold weather)There had been a sudden cold snap just after Christmas.adverbsfreezing/icy coldTake your gloves – it’s freezing cold out there.bitterly cold (=very cold)The winter of 1921 was bitterly cold.unusually/exceptionally colda period of unusually cold weatherquite/pretty coldIt’s going to be quite cold today.cold out/outsideIt’s too cold out – I’m staying at home.verbsbecome cold (also get cold informal)In my country, it never really gets cold.turn/grow cold (=become cold, especially suddenly)The birds fly south before the weather turns cold. THESAURUSpersoncold used especially when you feel uncomfortableI’m cold – can I borrow a sweater?cool a little cold, especially in a way that feels comfortableThe air-conditioning keeps everyone cool.freezing (cold) spoken very cold and very uncomfortableYou look absolutely freezing!shivery cold and unable to stop shivering, especially because you are illI felt shivery and had a headache.weathercold used especially when you feel uncomfortableIt gets very cold here in the winter.cool a little cold, often in a way that feels comfortableIt’s very hot in the day, but cooler at night.a nice cool breezechilly a little cold, but not very cold, in a way that feels rather uncomfortablea chilly autumn dayIt’s a bit chilly.freezing (cold) spoken very cold and very uncomfortableIt’s freezing outside.bitterly cold very cold and very uncomfortableIt can be bitterly cold in the mountains.icy (cold) very cold, especially when the temperature is below zeroThe wind was icy cold.crisp cold, dry, and clear, in a way that seems pleasantI love these crisp autumn mornings.frosty in frosty weather, the ground is covered in a frozen white powderIt was a bright frosty morning.arctic extremely cold and unpleasant, with snow and iceHe would not survive for long in the arctic conditions.arctic weatherroomcold used especially when you feel uncomfortableIt’s cold in here.cool a little cold, especially in a way that feels comfortableLet’s go inside where it’s cool.freezing (cold) spoken very coldI had to sleep in a freezing cold room.draughty British English, drafty American English /ˈdrɑːfti $ ˈdræfti/ with cold air blowing in from outside, in a way that feels uncomfortableOld houses can be very draughty.food, liquid, or something you touchcoldThe water’s too cold for swimming.a cold stone floorcool a little cold, especially in a way that seems pleasanta nice cool drinkcool white sheetsfreezing (cold) very coldHis friends pulled him from the freezing water.chilled food and drinks that are chilled have been deliberately made colda bottle of chilled champagnefrozen kept at a temperature which is below zerofrozen peas
Examples from the Corpus
cold• He woke up in the middle of the night feeling cold.• I'd hate to live somewhere where it's always cold.• I wanted to swim, but the water was too cold.• By the time I got off the phone, my coffee was stone cold.• Come and sit by the fire. You look cold.• Come eat your dinner before it gets cold.• "He has abused his position, " a cold and angry protester said.• His manner all evening was cold and unfriendly.• How about a nice cold beer?• I think we'll just have a cold buffet.• Dad, I'm cold. Can I put the heater on?• I thought you were supposed to get cold chills on your right leg.• a cold, clear night• It gets really cold here at night.• It's so cold. I wish I was back home in Morocco.• a cold January evening• I want something cold like an ice cream bar.• He waited an hour for the train on a cold platform.• a cold, pragmatic decision• I love being in a warm bed in a cold room.• a cold stone floor• It was a very professional, cold time.• Brewing Clean the white plastic brewing bucket with the sterilising fluid and rinse it thoroughly with cold water.• The first cold winds rattled the windowpane, and I had made it just in time.• You aren't the cold woman you're pretending to be!felt cold• As the flames died down he felt cold air on his face.• Suddenly he felt cold and afraid.• He suddenly felt cold but he could also feel the sweat running down the sides of his face.• Chrissy felt cold even to think about it.• She felt cold night air on her face.• She felt cold suddenly, and pushed everything back into the envelope.• He felt cold, thick fluid being splashed on him.bitterly cold• It was a Friday and bitterly cold.• It was bitterly cold and it was raining.• When morning came, bitterly cold and still dark, she had made up her mind.• He wrote that it was not as he had pictured it as the weather was bitterly cold and wet with some snow.• I wasn't annoyed except that it was bitterly cold, freezing.• We all know how bitterly cold it is now outside; it is not very cold here, of course.• On the bitterly cold morning of Sunday 13 November 1715 the two armies were woken respectively by bagpipes and trumpets.• It is bitterly cold outside today, but probably not cold enough to trigger the payments.coldcold2 ●●● S2 W3 noun 1 [countable]MIILLNESS/DISEASE a common illness that makes it difficult to breathe through your nose and often makes your throat hurt I’ve got a bad cold. Keep your feet dry so you don’t catch a cold. → common cold2 [uncountable] (also the cold)COLD a low temperature or cold weather I was shivering with cold. Don’t go out in the cold without your coat!you’ll catch your death of cold British English (=used to warn someone that they may become very ill if they do not keep themselves warm in cold weather)3 → come in from the cold4 → leave somebody out in the coldCOLLOCATIONSverbshave (got) a coldShe’s staying at home today because she’s got a cold.be getting a cold (=be starting to have a cold)I think I might be getting a cold.catch a cold (=start to have one)I caught a cold and had to miss the match.come down with a cold (also go down with a cold British English) informal (=catch one)A lot of people go down with colds at this time of year.be suffering from a cold formal (=have one)He was suffering from a cold and not his usual energetic self.suffer from colds formal (=have colds)Some people suffer from more colds than others.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + colda bad coldIf you have a bad cold, just stay in bed.a nasty cold (also a heavy cold British English) (=a bad one)He sounded as if he had a heavy cold.a streaming cold British English (=in which a lot of liquid comes from your nose)You shouldn’t go to work if you’ve got a streaming cold.a slight coldIt’s only a slight cold – I’ll be fine tomorrow.a chest cold (=affecting your chest)He’s coughing all the time with a bad chest cold.a head cold (=affecting your nose and head)A bad head cold can sometimes feel like flu.the common cold formalThere are hundreds of viruses that cause the common cold.Examples from the Corpus
cold• Going on vacation is a lot like getting a cold.• The nighttime cold had a new bite.• After addressing a public meeting in support of extending the franchise to agricultural workers he had caught a severe cold.• Come in out of the cold.• The cold pressed into his rib cage.• Having a parched nose and throat may lower resistance to colds, croup, sinusitis and respiratory problems.coldcold3 adverb 1 American EnglishSUDDENLY suddenly and completely Paul stopped cold. ‘What was that noise?’2 → out cold3 READYwithout preparation I can’t just get up there and make a speech cold!Examples from the Corpus
cold• He looked at me coldly, but said nothing.• The woman coldly told us to mind our own business.• Judy stopped cold, and waited for the laughter to finish.Origin cold1 Old English ceald, cald 