Cool vs. Chilled — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 15, 2024
"Cool" is often used to describe a moderate or pleasant decrease in temperature, or a fashionable appeal, while "chilled" refers specifically to an object or environment that has been cooled to a colder, often near-freezing temperature.
Difference Between Cool and Chilled
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Key Differences
"Cool" can describe a slightly lowered temperature that is comfortable and refreshing, or something trendy and appealing in social or cultural contexts, whereas "chilled" is used to describe a state of being significantly cold, often due to exposure to cold air or refrigeration.
In terms of temperature, cool is less extreme than chilled; a cool breeze is mild and pleasant, while a chilled environment could feel uncomfortably cold.
Cool has a secondary meaning as a slang term denoting something impressive, stylish, or excellent, while chilled does not carry a similar connotation in popular culture.
While cool conditions are often sought for comfort, especially in warm climates or seasons, chilled conditions are typically utilized for preserving food, drinks, or for specific activities that require lower temperatures like ice skating.
The term cool in emotional contexts can also mean calm or composed, indicating a state of mind. In contrast, chilled in this context might be used to describe a relaxed or laid-back attitude, but less commonly so.
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Comparison Chart
Temperature
Mildly low but comfortable.
Significantly low, often near freezing.
Common Usage
Temperature, fashion, demeanor.
Temperature, particularly in food and beverages.
Cultural Connotation
Fashionable, trendy, composed.
Mainly associated with coldness, less about trends.
Desired Environment
Preferred in warm weather for comfort.
Used for preservation or specific cold-required activities.
Emotional Connotation
Composed, calm.
Relaxed, but less commonly used in this sense.
Compare with Definitions
Cool
Moderately low temperature, especially pleasing in heat.
The cool shade was a relief after the sunny hike.
Chilled
Relaxed to a greater degree, informally calm.
He's really chilled about his exams, surprisingly.
Cool
Calm and composed, not easily excited.
Her cool response defused the argument.
Chilled
Physically feeling cold from reduced temperatures.
After the walk in the snow, my hands were completely chilled.
Cool
Slang for something excellent or popular.
That new movie is really cool!
Chilled
Cooled to a low temperature, especially to preserve or refresh.
She served chilled drinks to the guests.
Cool
Neither warm nor very cold; moderately cold
Fresh, cool water.
A cool autumn evening.
Chilled
A moderate but penetrating coldness.
Cool
Giving or suggesting relief from heat
A cool breeze.
A cool blouse.
Chilled
A sensation of coldness, often accompanied by shivering and pallor of the skin.
Cool
Marked by calm self-control
A cool negotiator.
Chilled
A checking or dampening of enthusiasm, spirit, or joy
Bad news that put a chill on the celebration.
Cool
Marked by indifference, disdain, or dislike; unfriendly or unresponsive
A cool greeting.
Was cool to the idea of higher taxes.
Chilled
A sudden numbing fear or dread.
Cool
Of, relating to, or characteristic of colors, such as blue and green, that produce the impression of coolness.
Chilled
Moderately cold; chilly
A chill wind.
Cool
Knowledgeable or aware of the latest trends or developments
Spent all his time trying to be cool.
Chilled
Not warm and friendly; distant
A chill greeting.
Cool
Excellent; first-rate
Has a cool sports car.
Had a cool time at the party.
Chilled
Discouraging; dispiriting
“Chill penury repressed their noble rage” (Thomas Gray).
Cool
Acceptable; satisfactory
It's cool if you don't want to talk about it.
Chilled
(Slang) Calm or relaxed
“As my meditation routine grew more stable...my already laid-back demeanor grew positively chill” (David Gelles).
Cool
(Slang) Entire; full
Worth a cool million.
Chilled
To affect with or as if with cold.
Cool
(Informal) In a casual manner; nonchalantly
Play it cool.
Chilled
To lower in temperature; cool.
Cool
To make less warm.
Chilled
To make discouraged; dispirit.
Cool
To make less ardent, intense, or zealous
Problems that soon cooled my enthusiasm for the project.
Chilled
(Metallurgy) To harden (a metallic surface) by rapid cooling.
Cool
(Physics) To reduce the molecular or kinetic energy of (an object).
Chilled
To be seized with cold.
Cool
To become less warm
Took a dip to cool off.
Chilled
To become cold or set
Jelly that chills quickly.
Cool
To become calmer
Needed time for tempers to cool.
Chilled
(Metallurgy) To become hard by rapid cooling.
Cool
A cool place, part, or time
The cool of early morning.
Chilled
To calm down or relax. Often used with out.
Cool
The state or quality of being cool.
Chilled
To pass time idly; loiter.
Cool
Composure; poise
"Our release marked a victory. The nation had kept its cool" (Moorhead Kennedy).
Chilled
To spend time with someone in a relaxed manner; hang out together.
Cool
Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
Chilled
Cooled.
The chilled beer was refreshing on the hot day.
Cool
Allowing or suggesting heat relief.
Linen has made cool and breathable clothing for millennia.
Chilled
Chilled out; relaxed
Cool
Of a color, in the range of violet to green.
If you have a reddish complexion, you should mainly wear cool colors.
Chilled
Hardened on the surface or edge by chilling; as, chilled iron; a chilled wheel.
Cool
Of a person, not showing emotion; calm and in control of oneself.
Chilled
Having that cloudiness or dimness of surface that is called "blooming."
Cool
Unenthusiastic, lukewarm, skeptical.
His proposals had a cool reception.
Chilled
Exposed to cold that makes it noticeably cold to the touch.
The chilled wind made everyone shiver.
Cool
Calmly audacious.
In control as always, he came up with a cool plan.
Chilled
Used to describe beverages or food kept in cold storage.
The recipe calls for using chilled butter.
Cool
Applied facetiously to a sum of money, commonly as if to give emphasis to the largeness of the amount.
Cool
(informal) Of a person, knowing what to do and how to behave; considered popular by others.
Cool
(informal) In fashion and fancy, part of or befitting the most leading trends and habits of the in crowd; originally hipster slang.
Cool
(informal) Of an action, all right; acceptable; that does not present a problem.
Is it cool if I sleep here tonight?
Cool
(informal) Very interesting or exciting.
I think astronomy is really cool.
Cool
(informal) (followed by with) Able to tolerate; to be fine with.
I'm completely cool with my girlfriend leaving me.
Cool
(informal) (of a pair of people) holding no grudge against one another; having no beef.
We're cool, right?
Cool
(sarcastic) (of an act or situation)'' annoying, irritating.
Cool
A moderate or refreshing state of cold; moderate temperature of the air between hot and cold; coolness.
In the cool of the morning
Cool
A calm temperament.
Cool
The property of being cool, popular or in fashion.
Cool
To lose heat, to get colder.
I like to let my tea cool before drinking it so I don't burn my tongue.
Cool
To make cooler, less warm.
Cool
To become less intense, e.g. less amicable or passionate.
Relations cooled between the USA and the USSR after 1980.
Cool
To make less intense, e.g. less amicable or passionate.
Cool
(transitive) To kill.
Cool
Moderately cold; between warm and cold; lacking in warmth; producing or promoting coolness.
Fanned with cool winds.
Cool
Not ardent, warm, fond, or passionate; not hasty; deliberate; exercising self-control; self-possessed; dispassionate; indifferent; as, a cool lover; a cool debater.
For a patriot, too cool.
Cool
Not retaining heat; light; as, a cool dress.
Cool
Manifesting coldness or dislike; chilling; apathetic; as, a cool manner.
Cool
Quietly impudent; negligent of propriety in matters of minor importance, either ignorantly or willfully; presuming and selfish; audacious; as, cool behavior.
Its cool stare of familiarity was intolerable.
Cool
Applied facetiously, in a vague sense, to a sum of money, commonly as if to give emphasis to the largeness of the amount.
He had lost a cool hundred.
Leaving a cool thousand to Mr. Matthew Pocket.
Cool
A moderate state of cold; coolness; - said of the temperature of the air between hot and cold; as, the cool of the day; the cool of the morning or evening.
Cool
To make cool or cold; to reduce the temperature of; as, ice cools water.
Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue.
Cool
To moderate the heat or excitement of; to allay, as passion of any kind; to calm; to moderate.
We have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts.
Cool
To become less hot; to lose heat.
I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus,the whilst his iron did on the anvil cool.
Cool
To lose the heat of excitement or passion; to become more moderate.
I will not give myself liberty to think, lest I should cool.
Cool
The quality of being cool;
The cool of early morning
Cool
Great coolness and composure under strain;
Keep your cool
Cool
Make cool or cooler;
Chill the food
Cool
Loose heat;
The air cooled considerably after the thunderstorm
Cool
Lose intensity;
His enthusiasm cooled considerably
Cool
Neither warm or very cold; giving relief from heat;
A cool autumn day
A cool room
Cool summer dresses
Cool drinks
A cool breeze
Cool
Marked by calm self-control (especially in trying circumstances); unemotional;
Play it cool
Keep cool
Stayed coolheaded in the crisis
The most nerveless winner in the history of the tournament
Cool
(color) inducing the impression of coolness; used especially of greens and blues and violets;
Cool greens and blues and violets
Cool
Psychologically cool and unenthusiastic; unfriendly or unresponsive or showing dislike;
Relations were cool and polite
A cool reception
Cool to the idea of higher taxes
Cool
Used of a number or sum and meaning without exaggeration or qualification;
A cool million bucks
Cool
Fashionable and attractive at the time; often skilled or socially adept;
He's a cool dude
That's cool
Mary's dress is really cool
It's not cool to arrive at a party too early
Cool
Fashionably attractive or impressive.
He's known for his cool demeanor in stressful situations.
Cool
Used to express acceptance or agreement.
We'll meet at eight. Cool, see you then.
Common Curiosities
Is it better to be cool or chilled in social situations?
Being cool, which implies being composed or fashionable, is usually more desirable in social contexts.
What is the difference between feeling cool and feeling chilled?
Feeling cool is generally pleasant and mild, whereas feeling chilled often involves discomfort from being too cold.
How do the terms cool and chilled relate to food and beverages?
Cool might describe mildly cold or room temperature items, whereas chilled indicates that the food or drink has been refrigerated or iced.
What makes a person cool in popular culture?
In popular culture, a cool person is typically calm, collected, and fashionable, often admired for their style and demeanor.
Can cool and chilled be used interchangeably?
Not typically, as cool refers to a more moderate temperature or a state of fashion, while chilled specifically refers to colder conditions.
What kind of clothes are suitable for cool and chilled weather?
Light jackets or sweaters are suitable for cool weather, while heavier, insulated clothing is better for chilled conditions.
Why is refrigeration often referred to as chilling?
Refrigeration is often termed chilling because it involves lowering the temperature of items to preserve them or keep them fresh.
Can an environment be both cool and chilled?
An environment might be described as cool or chilled based on the degree of coldness; "cool" is milder, and "chilled" is colder.
How do cool and chilled differ in emotional connotations?
Cool can denote a composed or unfazed attitude, while chilled, although less commonly, can refer to a very relaxed state.
How do the connotations of cool and chilled influence their use in marketing?
In marketing, cool is often used to promote products as trendy or desirable, while chilled is used for products like beverages that need to be cold to enhance refreshment.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
