cold / kōld/ • adj. 1. of or at a low or relatively low temperature, esp. when compared with the human body: a freezing cold day. ∎  (of food or drink) served or consumed without being heated or after cooling. ∎  (of an engine) not having been warmed up properly. ∎  (of a person) feeling uncomfortably cold: she was cold, and I put some more wood on the fire. ∎  feeling or characterized by fear or horror: a cold shiver of fear. ∎  inf. unconscious: she was out cold. ∎  dead.2. lacking affection or warmth of feeling; unemotional: cold politeness. ∎  not affected by emotion; objective: cold statistics. ∎  sexually unresponsive; frigid. ∎  depressing or dispiriting; not suggestive of warmth: the cold, impersonal barrack-room. ∎  (of a color) containing pale blue or gray. ∎  ineffective in playing a game: Butler capitalized on Xavier's cold shooting.3. (of the scent or trail of a hunted person or animal) no longer fresh and easy to follow: the trail went cold. ∎  (in children's games) far from finding or guessing what is sought, as opposed to warm or nearing success.4. without preparation or rehearsal; unawares: going into the test cold.• n. 1. a low temperature, esp. in the atmosphere; cold weather; a cold environment: my teeth chattered with the cold they nearly died of cold.2. a common viral infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed, typically causing running at the nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and other similar symptoms.• adv. inf. completely; entirely: she knew world capitals cold by age nine.PHRASES: catch (or take) cold become infected with a cold.cold comfort poor or inadequate consolation.cold feet loss of nerve or confidence: some investors got cold feet and backed out.the cold shoulder a show of intentional unfriendliness; rejection: why is even his own family giving him the cold shoulder?down coldsee down¹ .in cold blood without feeling or mercy; ruthlessly.out in the cold ignored; neglected: the talks left the French out in the cold.throw (or pour) cold water on be discouraging or negative about.DERIVATIVES: cold·ish / ˈkōldish/ adj.cold·ness / ˈkōl(d)nəs/ n.