Cool Definition

cool

English

Alternative forms

• (all nonstandard slang): coo, kewl, kool

Etymology

From Old English cōl (adjective), cōlian (verb), from Proto-Germanic *koluz, < Proto-Indo-European, *cold, to freeze. The verb form kele (from Old English cōlian) was used by Shakespeare, but has been assimilated with the adjective into the modern word. Applied since 1728 to large sums of money to give emphasis to amount.

Pronunciation

• enPR: ko͞ol, IPA: /kuːl/, SAMPA: /ku:l/

• Audio (US)
  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːl

Adjective

cool (comparative cooler, superlative coolest)

1. Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
2. Allowing or suggesting heat relief
3. Of a person, not showing emotion, calm and in self-control.
4. Unenthusiastic, lukewarm, skeptical.

   His proposals had a cool reception.

5. calmly audacious

   In control as always, he came up with a cool plan

6. (informal) Of a person, knowing what to do and how to behave; considered popular by others.
7. (informal) In fashion, part of or fitting the in-crowd-- originally hipster slag.
8. (informal) Of an action, all right; acceptable; that does not present a problem.

   Is it cool if I sleep here tonight?

9. (informal) Of a person, not upset by circumstances that might ordinarily be upsetting.

   I'm completely cool about my girlfriend leaving me.

Synonyms

• (having a slightly low temperature) chilly
• (not showing emotion) distant, phlegmatic, standoffish, unemotional
• (knowing what to do and how to behave)
• (in fashion)
  • (standard) à la mode, fashionable, in fashion, modish, stylish
  • (colloquial or slang) happening, hip, in, trendy
• (acceptable) acceptable, all right, OK
• (not upset) easy, fine, not bothered, not fussed

Antonyms

• (having a slightly low temperature) lukewarm, tepid, warm
• (not showing emotion) passionate
• (knowing what to do and how to behave) awkward, uncool
• (in fashion) démodé, old hat, out, out of fashion
• (acceptable) not cricket (UK), not on, unacceptable
• (not upset) bothered, upset
• (unenthusiastic) warm

Derived terms

Quotations

• ^ The earliest use of the word in this way seems to be in Wilkie Collins' "The Moonstone" 1868:

  "She has been a guest of yours at this house," I answered. "May I venture to suggest — if nothing was said about me beforehand — that I might see her here?"

  "Cool!" said Mr. Bruff. With that one word of comment on the reply that I had made to him, he took another turn up and down the room.

  "In plain English," he said, "my house is to be turned into a trap to catch Rachel ...

• In 1602, Shakespeare wrote that Queen Gertrude told Hamlet:

  "O gentle son, Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper, Sprinkle cool patience."

Verb

to cool (third-person singular simple present cools, present participle cooling, simple past and past participle cooled)

1. (literally) (intransitive) To lose heat, to get colder.

   I like to let my tea cool before drinking it so I don't burn by tongue.

2. (transitive) To make cooler, less warm
3. (figuratively) (intransitive) To become less intense, e.g. less amicable.

   Relations cooled between the USA and the USSR after 1980.

4. (transitive) To make less intense, e.g. less amicable.

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

• colo, Colo.
• loco

Dutch

Etymology

Germanic, from English cool, a cognate.

Pronunciation

• Homophones: koel

Adjective

cool (comparative cooler, superlative coolst)

1. cool, fashionable

Declension

French

Etymology

From English cool.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kul/
• Homophones: coule, coules, coulent (from verb couler)

Adjective

cool m. and f.

1. cool (only its informal senses, mainly fashionable)

   Les jeunes sont cool.

   Young people are cool.

   Les jeunes boivent de l'alcool pour être cool.

   Young people drink alcohol to be cool.

Interjection

cool !

1. cool! great!

Anagrams

• looc

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