Cold Meaning
Cold Definition & Usage
Having a low temperature, typically one that is uncomfortable or freezing.
Examples
- "The air was cold enough to freeze the water in the pipes."
- "I can't feel my fingers; it's so cold outside."
- "She wrapped herself in a blanket to ward off the cold of the night."
- "The cold wind made her cheeks turn red and sting."
- "The cold water of the lake was shocking when she dove in."
Lacking in warmth, affection, or friendliness; distant or unemotional.
Examples
- "Her cold response made it clear that she wasn't interested."
- "He gave me a cold stare when I arrived late."
- "The cold tone of his voice made me uncomfortable."
- "There was a cold atmosphere in the room after the argument."
- "Despite her smile, there was a coldness in her eyes."
To lower the temperature of something, often in a way that makes it colder or freezes it.
Examples
- "Make sure to cold the drink in the fridge before serving."
- "She cold the soup quickly by putting it in an ice bath."
- "The chef will cold the dessert before serving it."
- "I forgot to cold the drinks, so they're not very refreshing."
- "You should cold the cookies to set the chocolate."
The state or condition of being cold, often used to refer to a physical feeling or weather condition.
Examples
- "I can't stand the cold anymore; I need a heater."
- "The cold made it hard to concentrate during the exam."
- "There's an unusual cold today; I wonder if it will snow."
- "She tried to ignore the cold while waiting for the bus."
- "The sudden cold gave him chills down his spine."
Cultural Context
The word 'cold' originates from Old English 'cald,' which means 'low temperature' or 'chilled.' It has had various meanings over time, including figurative uses related to emotional or interpersonal distances.
The Cold Stare
Story
The Cold Stare
It was a freezing morning when Emma walked into the office, the cold of the outside world biting at her skin through the thin fabric of her coat. As she stepped inside, the warmth of the heating system did little to calm the frost she felt from her recent exchange with her colleague, Andrew. They had had a disagreement earlier that week, one that had left a coldness between them that was impossible to ignore. Emma glanced over at Andrew, but his gaze was distant, his eyes as cold as the weather outside. A chill ran down her spine as she wondered if their working relationship would ever return to its previous warmth. Despite the icy atmosphere in the room, Emma tried to focus on her work. But every time she looked up, she caught Andrew’s cold stare, his expression unreadable. He had never been one for small talk, but today, his distance was palpable, making her uncomfortable. As the day wore on, Emma couldn’t help but feel the physical coldness settling in her bones. The office, though warm enough to be comfortable, seemed to carry an aura of emotional cold that was hard to shake. She wondered if she would ever be able to break the icy silence between them, or if this was the new normal for their working relationship. Finally, Emma decided that something had to change. She approached Andrew’s desk, taking a deep breath before speaking. 'Andrew, I think we need to talk about what happened last week,' she said, her voice steady, though a little shaky from the tension. 'I don’t want things to stay cold between us.' Andrew looked up, his eyes softening for the first time all day. 'I didn’t mean to make it seem like I was ignoring you,' he said quietly. 'I guess I’ve been a bit cold, haven’t I? I’m sorry.' The warmth of his apology was enough to melt the emotional frost that had formed between them. They both smiled, the cold of the morning dissipating in the warmth of their understanding. By the end of the day, Emma felt the physical cold outside had nothing on the emotional warmth that had returned to the office. It was clear that, even in the coldest of situations, there was always a chance for change and connection.
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