# cool

Pronunciation: say "KOOL" US /kul/, UK /kuːl/

## Adjective

1. Somewhat cold rather than warm, or giving a pleasant feeling of relief from heat.
   - Simple: A little cold, or making you feel pleasantly less hot.
   - _The mountain stream stayed cool even in midsummer._
   - _A cool breeze drifted in through the open window._
2. Very interesting, impressive, or exciting. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Very interesting or exciting to see or do.
   - _We saw a cool magic trick that left everyone amazed._
   - _The documentary showed some cool footage of deep-sea creatures._
4. Acceptable or all right; also, of a person, willing to accept something ('cool with'). *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Okay or fine. Of a person, it can also mean happy to accept something.
   - _Her parents were cool with her staying out late as long as she texted them._
   - _He said it was cool to swing by his place anytime._
5. Fashionable and stylish, or admired and popular because of an easy, confident style. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Stylish, fashionable, and liked by others.
   - _The cafe has a cool, retro look that draws weekend crowds._
   - _Wide-leg jeans are cool again after years out of fashion._
6. Calm and in control of oneself, even in difficult or dangerous situations.
   - Simple: Calm and not upset or excited, even when things are hard.
   - _The pilot remained cool as the storm buffeted the plane._
   - _Even under fierce questioning, the witness stayed cool._
9. Of two people, on good and friendly terms with each other. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Friendly and getting along well with someone.
   - _Jen and I had a big fight last month, but we talked it out and we're cool now._
   - _We're cool now, no hard feelings about the argument._
10. Showing little enthusiasm; unenthusiastic or doubtful about something.
   - Simple: Not very interested or excited about something.
   - _Voters remained cool to the candidate's untested promises._
   - _She gave the idea a cool reception, unconvinced it would work._
11. Of a color, falling in the range from violet through blue to green.
   - Simple: Of a color, in the blue, green, or violet part of the rainbow.
   - _She repainted the studio in cool grays and soft teals._
   - _The photograph had a cool cast that suited the wintry mood._
14. Used before a stated sum of money to emphasize, often jokingly, how large the amount is.
   - Simple: Used before an amount of money to stress how big it is.
   - _She walked away from the table with a cool five thousand in winnings._
   - _The painting sold for a cool two hundred million at auction._
17. Behaving toward someone with little warmth or friendliness, keeping them at a reserved, slightly unwelcoming distance.
   - Simple: Not very warm or friendly to someone, in a distant or slightly unwelcoming way.
   - _The two old friends exchanged a cool handshake, neither quite ready to forgive._
   - _She has been noticeably cooler toward me since I got the promotion._

## Verb

3. To make something cooler, or to lose heat and become cooler.
   - Simple: To make something less warm, or to become less warm.
   - _Engineers cool the reactor with circulating water._
   - _A light wind cooled the runners as they climbed the hill._
7. Of feelings, interest, or relations, to become or make less warm or intense.
   - Simple: To become less strong or friendly, or to make feelings less strong.
   - _Relations between the two countries cooled after the border dispute._
   - _Tempers cool once people walk away and take a breath._
15. To relax and spend time casually, especially hanging out with others. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To relax and spend easy time, often with friends.
   - _Instead of going out, we spent Saturday night cooling at Jay's place, playing video games and chatting._
   - _On Sunday afternoons we usually just cool at my cousin's place and play cards._

## Noun

8. A calm and composed temperament.
   - Simple: A calm, steady state of mind, especially when things get hard.
   - _Her cool never wavered through the long negotiation._
   - _When the crowd began heckling, the speaker kept his cool and finished his talk._
12. The quality of being popular, stylish, or in fashion.
   - Simple: The quality of being popular and in style.
   - _The actor radiated an effortless cool throughout the interview._
   - _Decades later, the band's cool still defines the whole era._
13. A moderate, refreshing coldness; air temperature between hot and cold.
   - Simple: A pleasant, slightly cold feeling in the air.
   - _They rested in the cool of the evening after a long day's work._
   - _Stepping indoors, she welcomed the cool after the blazing street._

## Interjection

16. Said in response to signal approval or agreement, or to indicate that something is acceptable or welcome. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Said as an answer to show you like something, agree, or think it is fine.
   - _"The meeting moved to Thursday." "Cool, that works better for me anyway."_
   - _"Mind if I bring my roommate along?" "Sure, cool."_

## Other meanings

- (verb) To kill or murder a person.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2, 4–6, 8–14, 16–17** — From Middle English cool, from Old English cōl ("cool, cold, calm"), going back through Proto-Germanic to the Proto-Indo-European root *gel- ("cold"). It is related to cold and has cognates such as Dutch koel and German kühl.
**Meanings 3, 7, 15** — Old English cōlian, meaning "to cool, grow cold," became Middle English colen, and it traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *gel- ("to freeze"). Dutch koelen and German kühlen are cognates. Old English cēlan also fed into the word and was later reshaped to look like the adjective cool.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cool (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).