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¹cool

adjective \ˈkül\

: somewhat cold : not warm or hot

: made of a light, thin material that helps you stay cool

: able to think and act in a calm way : not affected by strong feelings

Full Definition of COOL

: moderately cold : lacking in warmth

a : marked by steady dispassionate calmness and self-control <a cool and calculating administrator — Current Biography>

b : lacking ardor or friendliness <a cool impersonal manner>

c of jazz : marked by restrained emotion and the frequent use of counterpoint

d : free from tensions or violence <we used to fight, but we're cool now>

—used as an intensive <a cool million dollars>

: marked by deliberate effrontery or lack of due respect or discretion <a cool reply>

: facilitating or suggesting relief from heat <a cool dress>

a of a color : producing an impression of being cool; specifically : of a hue in the range violet through blue to green

b of a musical tone : relatively lacking in timbre or resonance

slang

a : very good : excellent; also : all right

b : fashionable, hip <not happy with the new shoes … because they were not cool — Celestine Sibley>

— cool·ish \ˈkü-lish\ adjective

— cool·ly also cooly \ˈkü(l)-lē\ adverb

— cool·ness \ˈkül-nəs\ noun

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Origin of COOL

Middle English col, from Old English cōl; akin to Old High German kuoli cool, Old English ceald cold — more at cold

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to COOL

Synonyms: aloof, antisocial, asocial, buttoned-up, cold, cold-eyed, detached, distant, dry, frosty, offish, remote, standoff, standoffish, unbending, unclubbable, unsociable

Antonyms: cordial, friendly, sociable, social, warm

Synonym Discussion of COOL

cool, composed, collected, unruffled, imperturbable, nonchalant mean free from agitation or excitement. cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness <kept a cool head>. composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition <the composed pianist gave a flawless concert>. collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis <the nurse stayed calm and collected>. unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement <harried but unruffled>. imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation <the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling>. nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern <a nonchalant driver>.

Rhymes with COOL

boule, boulle, drool, fool, fuel, ghoul, gul, mewl, mule, pool, Poole, pul, pule, rule, school, spool, stool, tool, tulle, yule

²cool

verb

: to make (someone or something) cool

: to become cool : to lose heat or warmth

: to become less strong or intense especially in emotion

Full Definition of COOL

intransitive verb

: to become cool : lose heat or warmth <placed the pie in the window to cool> —sometimes used with off or down

: to lose ardor or passion <his anger cooled>

transitive verb

: to make cool : impart a feeling of coolness to <cooled the room with a fan> —often used with off or down <a swim cooled us off a little>

a : to moderate the heat, excitement, or force of : calm <cooled her growing anger>

b : to slow or lessen the growth or activity of —usually used with off or down <wants to cool off the economy without freezing it — Newsweek>

— cool it

: to calm down : go easy <the word went out to the young to cool it — W. M. Young>

— cool one's heels

: to wait or be kept waiting for a long time especially from or as if from disdain or discourtesy

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First Known Use of COOL

before 12th century

Related to COOL

Synonyms: chill, refrigerate

Antonyms: heat, toast, warm

³cool

noun

Definition of COOL

: a cool time, place, or situation <the cool of the evening>

a : absence of excitement or emotional involvement : detachment <must surrender his fine cool and enter the closed crazy world of suicide — Wilfrid Sheed>

b : poise, composure <press questions … seemed to rattle him and he lost his cool — New Republic>

: hipness

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