coldness

cold ► ADJECTIVE 1) of or at a low or relatively low temperature. 2) not feeling or showing emotion or affection. 3) not affected by emotion; objective: cold statistics. 4) (of a colour) containing pale blue or grey and giving no impression of warmth. 5) (of a scent or trail) no longer fresh and easy to follow. 6) (in children's games) far from finding or guessing what is sought. 7) without preparation or rehearsal; unawares. 8) informal unconscious.

► NOUN 1) cold weather or surroundings. 2) a common infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed, causing running at the nose and sneezing.

● cold comfort — Cf. ↑cold comfort

● get cold feet — Cf. ↑get cold feet

● the cold shoulder — Cf. ↑the cold shoulder

● in cold blood — Cf. ↑in cold blood

DERIVATIVES coldly adverb coldness noun.

ORIGIN Old English.