Cool vs. Cold — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Cool refers to a moderately low temperature, comfortable and refreshing. Cold indicates a noticeably low temperature, often uncomfortably or harshly so.
Difference Between Cool and Cold
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Cool" often suggests a temperature that is lower than ambient but not in any way extreme. It suggests mild, tempered, and somewhat refreshing conditions. "Cold," in contrast, implies a substantially low temperature, often to a degree that it can be unpleasant or uncomfortable.
When using "cool" in a conversational context, it implies a moderate and often pleasant degree of low temperature. For example, a cool breeze might be welcome on a warm day. "Cold" speaks to a much harsher, more intense experience of low temperature, like a winter day where the chill penetrates layers of clothing.
In colloquial language, "cool" might also mean fashionable or admirable, displaying a different dimension to its utility in language. "Cold" in informal uses can refer to a lack of emotion or a distant manner, showing its flexibility in conversational contexts.
"Cool" also finds a place in relaxed affirmation, as in agreement or understanding without being overly enthusiastic. For instance, when one agrees to a plan, they might simply respond with "cool." "Cold," however, doesn’t serve as an affirmation in informal slang but can indicate absolute truths or being correct without a doubt in expressions like "you're cold" in certain guessing games.
"Cool" can often be perceived as pleasant or benign because it moderates something that is otherwise warm. "Cold," while it too is a state of reduced heat, can often be perceived as harsh or severe due to its extremity and association with discomfort or harshness in various contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Temperature Perception
Moderately low and often pleasant
Significantly low, often harsh
Colloquial Meaning
Can mean fashionable or in agreement
Can imply emotional distance
Use in Metaphor
Can symbolize calmness or smoothness
May symbolize isolation or loneliness
Semantic Field
Often associated with comfort
Commonly associated with discomfort
Climatic Reference
Often refers to mild, temperate climates
Suggestive of winter or icy climates
Compare with Definitions
Cool
Calm demeanor
Despite the pressure, she remained cool.
Cold
Unpleasant or unwelcoming
He received a cold reception.
Cool
Unenthusiastic or indifferent
His response was rather cool.
Cold
Absolute, certain (slang)
In the game, her guess was cold.
Cool
Neither warm nor very cold; moderately cold
Fresh, cool water.
A cool autumn evening.
Cold
Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception.
Cool
Giving or suggesting relief from heat
A cool breeze.
A cool blouse.
Cold
Having a low temperature
Cold water.
Cool
Marked by calm self-control
A cool negotiator.
Cold
Being at a temperature that is less than what is required or what is normal
Cold oatmeal.
Cool
Marked by indifference, disdain, or dislike; unfriendly or unresponsive
A cool greeting.
Was cool to the idea of higher taxes.
Cold
Chilled by refrigeration or ice
Cold beer.
Cool
Of, relating to, or characteristic of colors, such as blue and green, that produce the impression of coolness.
Cold
Feeling no warmth; uncomfortably chilled
We were cold sitting by the drafty windows.
Cool
Knowledgeable or aware of the latest trends or developments
Spent all his time trying to be cool.
Cold
Appearing to be dead; unconscious
Found him out cold on the floor.
Cool
Excellent; first-rate
Has a cool sports car.
Had a cool time at the party.
Cold
Dead
Was cold in his grave.
Cool
Acceptable; satisfactory
It's cool if you don't want to talk about it.
Cold
Lacking emotion; objective
Cold logic.
Cool
(Slang) Entire; full
Worth a cool million.
Cold
Having little appeal to the senses or feelings
A cold decor.
Cool
(Informal) In a casual manner; nonchalantly
Play it cool.
Cold
Designating or being in a tone or color, such as pale gray, that suggests little warmth.
Cool
To make less warm.
Cold
Not affectionate or friendly; aloof
A cold person.
A cold nod.
Cool
To make less ardent, intense, or zealous
Problems that soon cooled my enthusiasm for the project.
Cold
Exhibiting or feeling no enthusiasm
A cold audience.
A cold response to the new play.
A concert that left me cold.
Cool
(Physics) To reduce the molecular or kinetic energy of (an object).
Cold
Devoid of sexual desire; frigid.
Cool
To become less warm
Took a dip to cool off.
Cold
Having lost all freshness or vividness through passage of time
Dogs attempting to catch a cold scent.
Cool
To become calmer
Needed time for tempers to cool.
Cold
So intense as to be almost uncontrollable
Cold fury.
Cool
A cool place, part, or time
The cool of early morning.
Cold
Characterized by repeated failure, especially in a sport or competitive activity
The team fell into a slump of cold shooting.
Cool
The state or quality of being cool.
Cold
To an unqualified degree; totally
Was cold sober.
Cool
Composure; poise
"Our release marked a victory. The nation had kept its cool" (Moorhead Kennedy).
Cold
With complete finality
We turned him down cold.
Cool
Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
Cold
Without advance preparation or introduction
Took the exam cold and passed.
Walked in cold and got the new job.
Cool
Allowing or suggesting heat relief.
Linen has made cool and breathable clothing for millennia.
Cold
Relative lack of warmth
Cold slows down chemical reactions.
Cool
Of a color, in the range of violet to green.
If you have a reddish complexion, you should mainly wear cool colors.
Cold
The sensation resulting from lack of warmth; chill.
Cool
Of a person, not showing emotion; calm and in control of oneself.
Cold
A condition of low air temperature; cold weather
Went out into the cold and got a chill.
Cool
Unenthusiastic, lukewarm, skeptical.
His proposals had a cool reception.
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.
Cool
Calmly audacious.
In control as always, he came up with a cool plan.
Cold
(of a thing) Having a low temperature.
A cold wind whistled through the trees.
Cool
Applied facetiously to a sum of money, commonly as if to give emphasis to the largeness of the amount.
Cold
(of the weather) Causing the air to be cold.
The forecast is that it will be very cold today.
Cool
(informal) Of a person, knowing what to do and how to behave; considered popular by others.
Cold
(of a person or animal) Feeling the sensation of coldness, especially to the point of discomfort.
She was so cold she was shivering.
Cool
(informal) In fashion and fancy, part of or befitting the most leading trends and habits of the in crowd; originally hipster slang.
Cold
Unfriendly; emotionally distant or unfeeling.
She shot me a cold glance before turning her back.
Cool
(informal) Of an action, all right; acceptable; that does not present a problem.
Is it cool if I sleep here tonight?
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.
Cool
(informal) Very interesting or exciting.
I think astronomy is really cool.
Cold
Completely unprepared; without introduction.
He was assigned cold calls for the first three months.
Cool
(informal) (followed by with) Able to tolerate; to be fine with.
I'm completely cool with my girlfriend leaving me.
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.
Cool
(informal) (of a pair of people) holding no grudge against one another; having no beef.
We're cool, right?
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.
Cool
(sarcastic) (of an act or situation)'' annoying, irritating.
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.
Cool
A moderate or refreshing state of cold; moderate temperature of the air between hot and cold; coolness.
In the cool of the morning
Cold
(obsolete) Not pungent or acrid.
Cool
A calm temperament.
Cold
(obsolete) Unexciting; dull; uninteresting.
Cool
The property of being cool, popular or in fashion.
Cold
Affecting the sense of smell (as of hunting dogs) only feebly; having lost its odour.
A cold scent
Cool
To lose heat, to get colder.
I like to let my tea cool before drinking it so I don't burn my tongue.
Cold
(obsolete) Not sensitive; not acute.
Cool
To make cooler, less warm.
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!
Cool
To become less intense, e.g. less amicable or passionate.
Relations cooled between the USA and the USSR after 1980.
Cold
(painting) Having a bluish effect; not warm in colour.
Cool
To make less intense, e.g. less amicable or passionate.
Cold
(databases) Rarely used or accessed, and thus able to be relegated to slower storage.
Cool
(transitive) To kill.
Cold
(informal) Without compassion; heartless; ruthless.
I can't believe she said that...that was cold!
Cool
Moderately cold; between warm and cold; lacking in warmth; producing or promoting coolness.
Fanned with cool winds.
Cold
(informal) Not radioactive.
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.
Cold
(firearm) Not loaded with a round of live ammunition.
Cool
Not retaining heat; light; as, a cool dress.
Cold
Without electrical power being supplied.
Cool
Manifesting coldness or dislike; chilling; apathetic; as, a cool manner.
Cold
A condition of low temperature.
Come in, out of the cold.
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.
Cold
A harsh place; a place of abandonment.
The former politician was left out in the cold after his friends deserted him.
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.
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
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.
Cold
(slang) rheum, sleepy dust
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.
Cold
At a low temperature.
The steel was processed cold.
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.
Cold
Without preparation.
The speaker went in cold and floundered for a topic.
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.
Cold
In a cold, frank, or realistically honest manner.
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.
Cold
Deprived of heat, or having a low temperature; not warm or hot; gelid; frigid.
Cool
The quality of being cool;
The cool of early morning
Cold
Lacking the sensation of warmth; suffering from the absence of heat; chilly; shivering; as, to be cold.
Cool
Great coolness and composure under strain;
Keep your cool
Cold
Not pungent or acrid.
Cool
Make cool or cooler;
Chill the food
Cold
Wanting in ardor, intensity, warmth, zeal, or passion; spiritless; unconcerned; reserved.
A cold and unconcerned spectator.
No cold relation is a zealous citizen.
Cool
Loose heat;
The air cooled considerably after the thunderstorm
Cold
Unwelcome; disagreeable; unsatisfactory.
Cool
Lose intensity;
His enthusiasm cooled considerably
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.
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
Cold
Affecting the sense of smell (as of hunting dogs) but feebly; having lost its odor; as, a cold scent.
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
Cold
Not sensitive; not acute.
Smell this business with a sense as coldAs is a dead man's nose.
Cool
(color) inducing the impression of coolness; used especially of greens and blues and violets;
Cool greens and blues and violets
Cold
Distant; - said, in the game of hunting for some object, of a seeker remote from the thing concealed.
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
Cold
Having a bluish effect. Cf. Warm, 8.
He was slain in cold blood after the fight was over.
Cool
Used of a number or sum and meaning without exaggeration or qualification;
A cool million bucks
Cold
The relative absence of heat or warmth.
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
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.
Cool
Moderately low temperature
Wear a jacket in the cool evening.
Cold
A morbid state of the animal system produced by exposure to cold or dampness; a catarrh.
Cool
Fashionable
Your new shoes are really cool!
Cold
To become cold.
Cool
Approval or agreement
“Cool, let’s do it.”
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
Sexually unresponsive;
Was cold to his advances
A frigid woman
Cold
Without compunction or human feeling;
In cold blood
Cold-blooded killing
Insensate destruction
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
Cold
Noticeably low temperature
I shivered in the cold air.
Cold
Lacking warmth or emotion
Her cold stare was unsettling.
Cold
Dead, not alive (slang)
He was cold before the ambulance arrived.
Common Curiosities
How does "cold" typically relate to comfort?
It often implies a lack of comfort due to low temperature.
What does a “cold” demeanor suggest?
It suggests lack of warmth or emotion.
Can “cool” refer to something popular?
Yes, it can mean something is fashionable or popular.
Can “cool” be used to show agreement?
Yes, “cool” can be used to express agreement or approval.
Can "cold" signify truth or certainty in games?
Yes, it can signify an absolute miss in a guessing game.
What is a “cold reception”?
An unfriendly or unwelcoming response.
Is “cool” always related to temperature?
No, it has varied uses, including indicating fashion or agreement.
What does “cool” imply in terms of temperature?
Moderately low and often pleasant temperature.
Can “cool” refer to colors?
Yes, it can describe colors with blue undertones.
Can “cool” imply a lack of interest?
Yes, it can suggest indifference or unenthusiasm.
Does “cold” relate to death in idioms?
Yes, e.g., in the idiom “stone-cold,” implying lifelessness.
Can both “cool” and “cold” describe demeanor?
Yes, cool can mean calm, while cold can imply emotionlessness.
Can “cold” imply isolation?
Yes, metaphorically it can suggest loneliness or isolation.
How is “cool” used metaphorically?
It can symbolize calmness, e.g., “cool head.”
What does “cold” suggest in relation to weather?
Significantly low, often harsh temperatures.
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Written 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.
