Blistering vs. Cold — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 15, 2024
"Blistering" refers to intense heat, often to a degree causing discomfort or harm, while "cold" describes low temperatures that can range from mildly cool to freezing, generally perceived as chilly or frigid.
Difference Between Blistering and Cold
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Blistering temperatures are typically associated with extreme heat, often used to describe weather or conditions that can cause physical discomfort or damage, such as sunburn or dehydration. In contrast, cold temperatures refer to a lack of warmth, characterized by conditions that can lead to hypothermia or frostbite if adequate protection is not used.
The term "blistering" can imply a rapid, intense effect, particularly in the context of speed or performance, suggesting something done with great intensity and speed. On the other hand, cold often connotes slowness or a lack of emotional warmth, as in a cold demeanor, which can suggest indifference or hostility.
Blistering conditions are generally sought to be avoided in everyday situations due to the discomfort and potential for harm they pose. Conversely, cold conditions might be sought for preservation purposes, like in food storage, or for recreational activities like skiing.
In a metaphorical sense, blistering can be used to describe fervent or vehement actions, such as a blistering attack in a debate, indicating ferocity and intensity. Cold, metaphorically, is often used to describe a situation or person lacking in emotion or friendliness, such as a cold reception.
Blistering heat can lead to increased sweating, potential heatstroke, and other heat-related illnesses. Cold weather, however, affects the body by slowing down metabolic and physical processes, increasing the need for calories and warmth to maintain body temperature.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Extremely high temperatures
Low temperatures, lacking warmth
Associated Conditions
Can cause dehydration, heatstroke
Can cause hypothermia, frostbite
Metaphorical Use
Describes intensity and speed
Often describes lack of emotion or slowness
Desired Conditions
Often avoided for comfort
Sought after for specific purposes like preservation
Physiological Effects
Increased sweating, potential for heat-related illnesses
Slowing of bodily functions, increased caloric need
Compare with Definitions
Blistering
Marked by extreme conditions or a severe impact.
They endured a blistering summer with record temperatures.
Cold
Characterized by a low temperature; chilly.
The cold wind made me shiver as I stepped outside.
Blistering
Extremely hot, causing discomfort or burns.
The blistering sun made it impossible to walk barefoot on the sand.
Cold
Used to describe something unfavourable or harsh.
She received a cold reception at the meeting.
Blistering
Showing great intensity.
The athlete put on a blistering pace at the start of the race.
Cold
Lacking warmth or emotion; unfriendly.
His response was cold and detached.
Blistering
Very fast or intense, often in terms of speed or performance.
She delivered a blistering critique of the proposal.
Cold
Indicative of a slowdown or reduction in activity.
The market experienced a cold spell, with few sales occurring.
Blistering
Capable of causing blisters, either from heat or irritation.
The blistering heat of the grill seared the steak perfectly.
Cold
Relating to the absence of heat.
Cold storage is essential for preserving certain foods.
Blistering
Blistering, founded in 1998, was an international online magazine dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock music. Its editor-in-chief was David E. Gehlke, an American music journalist who has written for About.com, Metal Maniacs, and Throat Culture.
Cold
Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception.
Blistering
Intensely hot
A blistering sun.
Cold
Having a low temperature
Cold water.
Blistering
Harsh; severe
Blistering criticism.
Cold
Being at a temperature that is less than what is required or what is normal
Cold oatmeal.
Blistering
Very rapid
A blistering pace.
Cold
Chilled by refrigeration or ice
Cold beer.
Blistering
Producing a blister or blisters
A blistering agent.
Cold
Feeling no warmth; uncomfortably chilled
We were cold sitting by the drafty windows.
Blistering
Present participle of blister
Cold
Appearing to be dead; unconscious
Found him out cold on the floor.
Blistering
Causing blisters.
Cold
Dead
Was cold in his grave.
Blistering
Very hot.
Cold
Lacking emotion; objective
Cold logic.
Blistering
Harsh or corrosive.
Cold
Having little appeal to the senses or feelings
A cold decor.
Blistering
Scornful.
Cold
Designating or being in a tone or color, such as pale gray, that suggests little warmth.
Blistering
Very fast.
Cold
Not affectionate or friendly; aloof
A cold person.
A cold nod.
Blistering
Harshly or corrosively critical in tone; - of comments about people or their actions.
Cold
Exhibiting or feeling no enthusiasm
A cold audience.
A cold response to the new play.
A concert that left me cold.
Blistering
Intensely hot.
Cold
Having lost all freshness or vividness through passage of time
Dogs attempting to catch a cold scent.
Blistering
Very fast; as, a blistering pace.
Cold
So intense as to be almost uncontrollable
Cold fury.
Blistering
The formation of vesicles
Cold
Characterized by repeated failure, especially in a sport or competitive activity
The team fell into a slump of cold shooting.
Blistering
Harsh or corrosive in tone;
An acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose
A barrage of acid comments
Her acrid remarks make her many enemies
Bitter words
Blistering criticism
Caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics
A sulfurous denunciation
Cold
To an unqualified degree; totally
Was cold sober.
Blistering
Hot enough to raise (or as if to raise) blisters;
Blistering sun
Cold
With complete finality
We turned him down cold.
Blistering
Very fast;
A blistering pace
Got off to a hot start
In hot pursuit
A red-hot line drive
Cold
Without advance preparation or introduction
Took the exam cold and passed.
Walked in cold and got the new job.
Blistering
Marked by harshly abusive criticism;
His scathing remarks about silly lady novelists
Her vituperative railing
Cold
Relative lack of warmth
Cold slows down chemical reactions.
Cold
The sensation resulting from lack of warmth; chill.
Cold
A condition of low air temperature; cold weather
Went out into the cold and got a chill.
Cold
A viral infection characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the upper respiratory passages and usually accompanied by malaise, fever, chills, coughing, and sneezing. Also called common cold, coryza.
Cold
(of a thing) Having a low temperature.
A cold wind whistled through the trees.
Cold
(of the weather) Causing the air to be cold.
The forecast is that it will be very cold today.
Cold
(of a person or animal) Feeling the sensation of coldness, especially to the point of discomfort.
She was so cold she was shivering.
Cold
Unfriendly; emotionally distant or unfeeling.
She shot me a cold glance before turning her back.
Cold
Dispassionate; not prejudiced or partisan; impartial.
Let's look at this tomorrow with a cold head.
He's a nice guy, but the cold facts say we should fire him.
The cold truth is that states rarely undertake military action unless their national interests are at stake.
Cold
Completely unprepared; without introduction.
He was assigned cold calls for the first three months.
Cold
Unconscious or deeply asleep; deprived of the metaphorical heat associated with life or consciousness.
I knocked him out cold.
After one more beer he passed out cold.
Cold
(usually with "have" or "know" transitively) Perfectly, exactly, completely; by heart; down pat.
Practice your music scales until you know them cold.
Try both these maneuvers until you have them cold and can do them in the dark without thinking.
Rehearse your lines until you have them down cold.
Keep that list in front of you, or memorize it cold.
Cold
(usually with "have" transitively) Cornered; done for.
With that receipt, we have them cold for fraud.
Criminal interrogation. Initially they will dream up explanations faster than you could ever do so, but when they become fatigued, often they will acknowledge that you have them cold.
Cold
(obsolete) Not pungent or acrid.
Cold
(obsolete) Unexciting; dull; uninteresting.
Cold
Affecting the sense of smell (as of hunting dogs) only feebly; having lost its odour.
A cold scent
Cold
(obsolete) Not sensitive; not acute.
Cold
Distant; said, in the game of hunting for some object, of a seeker remote from the thing concealed. Compare warm and hot.
You're cold … getting warmer … hot! You've found it!
Cold
(painting) Having a bluish effect; not warm in colour.
Cold
(databases) Rarely used or accessed, and thus able to be relegated to slower storage.
Cold
(informal) Without compassion; heartless; ruthless.
I can't believe she said that...that was cold!
Cold
(informal) Not radioactive.
Cold
(firearm) Not loaded with a round of live ammunition.
Cold
Without electrical power being supplied.
Cold
A condition of low temperature.
Come in, out of the cold.
Cold
A harsh place; a place of abandonment.
The former politician was left out in the cold after his friends deserted him.
Cold
(medicine) A common, usually harmless, viral illness, usually with congestion of the nasal passages and sometimes fever.
I caught a miserable cold and had to stay home for a week
Cold
(slang) rheum, sleepy dust
Cold
At a low temperature.
The steel was processed cold.
Cold
Without preparation.
The speaker went in cold and floundered for a topic.
Cold
In a cold, frank, or realistically honest manner.
Cold
Deprived of heat, or having a low temperature; not warm or hot; gelid; frigid.
Cold
Lacking the sensation of warmth; suffering from the absence of heat; chilly; shivering; as, to be cold.
Cold
Not pungent or acrid.
Cold
Wanting in ardor, intensity, warmth, zeal, or passion; spiritless; unconcerned; reserved.
A cold and unconcerned spectator.
No cold relation is a zealous citizen.
Cold
Unwelcome; disagreeable; unsatisfactory.
Cold
Wanting in power to excite; dull; uninteresting.
What a deal of cold business doth a man misspend the better part of life in!
The jest grows cold . . . when in comes on in a second scene.
Cold
Affecting the sense of smell (as of hunting dogs) but feebly; having lost its odor; as, a cold scent.
Cold
Not sensitive; not acute.
Smell this business with a sense as coldAs is a dead man's nose.
Cold
Distant; - said, in the game of hunting for some object, of a seeker remote from the thing concealed.
Cold
The relative absence of heat or warmth.
Cold
The sensation produced by the escape of heat; chilliness or chillness.
When she saw her lord prepared to part,A deadly cold ran shivering to her heart.
Cold
A morbid state of the animal system produced by exposure to cold or dampness; a catarrh.
Cold
To become cold.
Cold
A mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs);
Will they never find a cure for the common cold?
Cold
The absence of heat;
The coldness made our breath visible
Come in out of the cold
Cold is a vasoconstrictor
Cold
The sensation produced by low temperatures;
He shivered from the cold
The cold helped clear his head
Cold
Used of physical coldness; having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration;
A cold climate
A cold room
Dinner has gotten cold
Cold fingers
If you are cold, turn up the heat
A cold beer
Cold
Extended meanings; especially of psychological coldness; without human warmth or emotion;
A cold unfriendly nod
A cold and unaffectionate person
A cold impersonal manner
Cold logic
The concert left me cold
Cold
Having lost freshness through passage of time;
A cold trail
Dogs attempting to catch a cold scent
Cold
(color) giving no sensation of warmth;
A cold bluish gray
Cold
Marked by errorless familiarity;
Had her lines cold before rehearsals started
Cold
No longer new; uninteresting;
Cold (or stale) news
Cold
So intense as to be almost uncontrollable;
Cold fury gripped him
Cold
Feeling or showing no enthusiasm;
A cold audience
A cold response to the new play
Cold
Unconscious from a blow or shock or intoxication;
The boxer was out cold
Pass out cold
Cold
Of a seeker; far from the object sought
Cold
Lacking the warmth of life;
Cold in his grave
Common Curiosities
What does "blistering" mean in weather terms?
In weather terms, blistering refers to extremely high temperatures that are often uncomfortable or hazardous.
Can "blistering" be used to describe someone's performance?
Yes, blistering can describe an extremely fast or intense performance in sports or other activities.
How does cold weather affect the human body?
Cold weather slows down physiological processes and increases the body's need for calories to maintain internal warmth.
What is an example of a cold response?
An example of a cold response is an unenthusiastic or minimally polite answer to an invitation.
Is "blistering" ever used in a positive context?
Yes, blistering can be positive when referring to impressive speeds or high levels of performance.
What are some survival tips for blistering heat?
Staying hydrated, wearing sun protection, and limiting exposure during peak heat hours are essential survival tips.
What metaphorical meaning does "cold" convey in interpersonal communications?
In interpersonal communications, cold often conveys a lack of friendliness or emotional warmth.
What animals thrive in cold environments?
Animals like penguins, polar bears, and seals are adapted to thrive in cold environments.
Why might someone prefer cold conditions?
Cold conditions can be preferred for activities like ice skating, skiing, or to preserve perishable goods.
How do you prepare for cold weather?
Preparing for cold weather involves wearing layers, ensuring adequate heating, and protecting extremities from frostbite.
How does the environment change during a blistering summer?
During a blistering summer, the environment can experience drought conditions, and heatwaves can lead to increased energy consumption due to air conditioning.
What are common uses of cold technology?
Cold technology is commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and cryogenics.
Can blistering conditions affect technology?
Yes, blistering conditions can lead to overheating of electronic devices, potentially causing them to malfunction.
What literary works feature "cold" as a theme?
Literary works like "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London feature cold as a significant theme, emphasizing survival and the harshness of the environment.
Is there a cultural preference for either blistering or cold conditions?
Cultural preferences vary, with some cultures better adapted or more welcoming to either hot or cold conditions based on historical and geographical factors.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
