cool

[[t]ku͟ːl[/t]]

♦♦

cooler, coolest, cools, cooling, cooled

1) ADJ-GRADED Something that is cool has a temperature which is low but not very low.

I felt a current of cool air...

The water was slightly cooler than a child's bath...

The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators.

Ant:

warm

Derived words:

coolness N-UNCOUNT oft N of n

His knees felt the coolness of the tiled floor.

2) ADJ-GRADED: oft it v-link ADJ If it is cool, or if a place is cool, the temperature of the air is low but not very low.

Thank goodness it's cool in here...

Store grains and cereals in a cool, dry place.

...a cool November evening.

Ant:

warm

Derived words:

coolness N-UNCOUNT oft N of n

Soon we left the coolness of the olive groves.

N-SING: the N, oft N of n

Cool is also a noun.

She walked into the cool of the hallway.

3) ADJ-GRADED Clothing that is cool is made of thin material so that you do not become too hot in hot weather.

In warm weather, you should wear clothing that is cool and comfortable.

Ant:

warm

4) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n Cool colours are light colours which give an impression of coolness.

Choose a cool colour such as cream...

The drawing-room was a cool silver green.

Ant:

warm

5) V-ERG When something cools or when you cool it, it becomes lower in temperature.

Drain the meat and allow it to cool...

[V n] Huge fans will have to cool the concrete floor to keep it below 150 degrees.

[V-ing] ...a cooling breeze.

Derived words:

cooling N-UNCOUNT usu N of n

Being immobile in a cold room leads to a cooling of the body temperature.

PHR-V-ERG

To cool down means the same as to cool.

V P Avoid putting your car away until the engine has cooled down... Also V P n (not pron) V n P The other main way the body cools itself down is by panting.

6) V-ERG When a feeling or emotion cools, or when you cool it, it becomes less powerful.

Within a few minutes tempers had cooled...

[V n] His weird behaviour had cooled her passion.

7) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are calm and unemotional, especially in a difficult situation.

He was marvelously cool again, smiling as if nothing had happened...

At that, Reno lost her cool composure.

Syn:

calm

Derived words:

coolly ADV-GRADED

Everyone must think this situation through calmly and coolly.

...coolly `objective' professionals.

coolness N-UNCOUNT usu with supp

Detectives praised him for his coolness.

8) ADJ-GRADED If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are unfriendly or not enthusiastic.

I didn't like him at all. I thought he was cool, aloof, and arrogant...

The idea met with a cool response...

He was given a cool reception.

Derived words:

coolly ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v, also ADV adj

`It's your choice, Nina,' David said coolly.

coolness N-UNCOUNT usu with supp

She seemed quite unaware of the sudden coolness of her friend's manner.

9) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are fashionable and attractive. [INFORMAL]

He was trying to be really cool and trendy.

...some 15-year-old kid who thinks it's cool to do heroin.

10) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n (approval) If you say that someone is cool about something, you mean that they accept it and are not angry or upset about it. [mainly AM, INFORMAL]

Bev was really cool about it all.

11) ADJ-GRADED If you say that something is cool, you think it is very good. [INFORMAL]

Kathleen gave me a really cool dress.

Syn:

great

12) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n (emphasis) You can use cool to emphasize that an amount or figure is very large, especially when it has been obtained easily. [INFORMAL]

Columbia recently re-signed the band for a cool $30 million.

13) PHRASE If you tell someone to cool it, you want them to stop being angry and aggressive and to behave more calmly. [SPOKEN]

Can't you guys just cool it?

Syn:

calm down

14) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep your cool in a difficult situation, you manage to remain calm. If you lose your cool, you get angry or upset. [INFORMAL]

She kept her cool and managed to get herself out of the ordeal...

The big Irishman was on the verge of losing his cool.

15) PHRASE: V inflects If you play it cool, you deliberately behave in a calm, unemotional way because you do not want people to know you are enthusiastic or angry about something. [INFORMAL]

It's ridiculous to play it cool if someone you're mad about is mad about you too.

16) as cool as a cucumber → see cucumber

to cool your heels → see heel

Phrasal Verbs:

- cool down

- cool off