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Definition of cool adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

cool

adjective
 
/kuːl/
 
/kuːl/
(comparative cooler, superlative coolest)
Idioms
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    fairly cold

  1. fairly cold; not hot or warm
    • cool air/water
    • a cool breeze/drink/climate
    • Cooler weather is forecast for the weekend.
    • These plants prefer cooler temperatures.
    • Let's sit in the shade and keep cool.
    • The wooden shutters help keep the building cool.
    • Store lemons in a cool dry place.
    Synonyms coldcoldcool freezing chilly lukewarm tepidThese words all describe somebody/​something that has a low temperature.cold having a temperature that is lower than usual or lower than the human body; (of food or drink) not heated; cooled after being cooked:
    • I’m cold. Turn the heating up.
    • Outside it was bitterly cold.
    • a cold wind
    • hot and cold water
    • It’s cold chicken for lunch.
    cool (often approving) fairly cold, especially in a pleasant way:
    • a long cool drink
    • We found a cool place to sit.
    freezing extremely cold; having a temperature below 0° Celsius:
    • It’s absolutely freezing outside.
    • I’m freezing!
    chilly (rather informal) too cold to be comfortable:
    • Bring a coat. It might turn chilly later.
    lukewarm (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
    • Her coffee was now lukewarm.
    tepid (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
    • a jug of tepid water
    lukewarm or tepid?There is really no difference in meaning or use between these words.Patterns
    • to feel/​get cold/​cool/​chilly
    • cold/​cool/​freezing/​chilly air/​weather
    • a cold/​cool/​freezing/​chilly wind
    • cold/​cool/​freezing/​lukewarm/​tepid water
    • a cold/​cool/​lukewarm/​tepid shower/​bath
    • cold/​lukewarm/​tepid tea/​coffee/​food
    • a cold/​cool drink
    • It’s cold/​chilly/​freezing outside.
    Extra Examples
    • It was a relatively cool night.
    • It will probably get cool later, so bring a coat.
    • The cave was refreshingly cool.
    • The forest looked cool and shady.
    • The temple was light, spacious and blissfully cool.
    • The weather that June was unseasonably cool.
    • Try to keep the drinks cool.
    • Wait until the cake is completely cool before cutting.
    • A cool breeze played in the trees.
    • Store medicines in a cool dry place.
    • The hall was deliciously cool and dark.
    • The water was blissfully cool.
    • They bathed in the cool water.
    • We found a cool place to sit.
    • a long cool drink
    Topics Weathera1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • look
    adverb
    • very
    • a little
    • slightly
    See full entry
  2. clothes

  3. helping you keep cool
    • Wear light, cool clothing but try to avoid shorts.
  4. colours

  5. making you feel pleasantly cool
    • a room painted in cool greens and blues
  6. approving

  7. (informal) used to show that you admire or approve of somebody/something because they are/it is fashionable, attractive and often different
    • Doesn't she look cool in those sunglasses?
    • He's a really cool guy.
    • You look pretty cool with that new haircut.
    • It's a cool movie.
    • She has lots of cool ideas.
    Synonyms greatgreatcool fantastic fabulous terrific brilliant awesome epicThese are all informal words that describe somebody/​something that is very good, impressive, great fun, etc.great (informal) very good; giving a lot of pleasure:
    • We had a great time in Madrid.
    cool (informal) used to show that you admire or approve of something, often because it is fashionable, attractive or different:
    • I think their new song’s really cool.
    fantastic (informal) extremely good; giving a lot of pleasure:
    • ‘How was your holiday?’ ‘Fantastic!’
    fabulous (informal) extremely good:
    • Jane’s a fabulous cook.
    (Fabulous is slightly more old-fashioned than the other words in this set.)
    terrific (informal) extremely good; wonderful:
    • She’s doing a terrific job.
    brilliant (British English, informal) extremely good; wonderful:
    • ‘How was the show?’ ‘Brilliant!’
    awesome (informal, especially North American English) very good, impressive or great fun:
    • The show was just awesome.
    epic (informal) very good, impressive or great fun:
    • The adventure and action are truly epic in scope.
    Patterns
    • to have a(n) great/​cool/​fantastic/​fabulous/​terrific/​brilliant/​awesome time
    • to look/​sound great/​cool/​fantastic/​fabulous/​terrific/​brilliant/​awesome
    • really great/​cool/​fantastic/​fabulous/​terrific/​brilliant/​awesome
    • absolutely great/​fantastic/​fabulous/​terrific/​brilliant/​awesome/​epic
    Extra Examples
    • His new car's pretty cool.
    • I think their new song's really cool.
    • ‘What's his new girlfriend like?’ ‘She's cool.’
    • You look really cool in those jeans.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + cool
    • be
    • look
    • sound
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  8. (informal) used to describe something that you like or enjoy
    • We had such a cool time with Ed and his friends.
    • I really hope you can come—it'd be so cool!
    • it is cool to do something It was totally cool to see him in real life.
    • it is cool (that)… It's really cool you came back!
  9. (informal) used to show that you approve of something or agree to a suggestion
    • ‘We're meeting Jake for lunch and we can go on the yacht in the afternoon.’ ‘Cool!’
    • Can you come at 10.30 tomorrow?’ ‘That's cool.’
    • ‘Yeah, sure. That sounds cool,’ he replied.
    • cool with something I was surprised that she got the job, but I'm cool with it (= it's not a problem for me).
    • cool about something She's completely cool about what happened.
    Topics Opinion and argumenta1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + cool
    • be
    • look
    • sound
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    See full entry
  10. calm

  11. calm; not excited, angry or emotional
    • Keep cool!
    • Just stay cool and don't panic.
    • She tried to remain cool, calm and collected (= calm).
    • He has a cool head (= he stays calm in an emergency).
    Extra Examples
    • He did his best to appear cool, calm and collected.
    • He forced himself to count to ten and act cool.
    • Professionally cool, she went back to her patient.
    • She managed to stay cool during the meeting.
    • Keep cool. We'll sort this out.
    • What is she like beneath her cool, confident exterior?
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • appear
    • be
    • look
    adverb
    • very
    • pretty
    preposition
    • about
    • with
    phrases
    • cool, calm and collected
    See full entry
  12. not friendly/enthusiastic

  13. not friendly, interested or enthusiastic
    • They gave the prime minister a cool reception.
    • Her voice was cool and dismissive.
    • cool about something She was decidedly cool about the proposal.
    • cool towards somebody/something He has been cool towards me ever since we had that argument.
    Extra Examples
    • He was cool towards me.
    • I'm sorry I acted cool toward you.
    • She was distinctly cool about their plans.
    Topics Feelingsb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • act
    • appear
    • be
    adverb
    • distinctly
    • very
    • rather
    preposition
    • about
    • towards/​toward
    See full entry
  14. confident

  15. (informal) calm and confident in a way that lacks respect for other people, but makes people admire you even if they don't approve
    • She just took his keys and walked out with them, cool as you please.
    • He was a cool customer. No one would think to look for him in a city where he’d been arrested for killing a cop.
    Topics Personal qualitiesc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • appear
    • be
    • look
    adverb
    • very
    • pretty
    preposition
    • about
    • with
    phrases
    • cool, calm and collected
    See full entry
  16. money

  17. [only before noun] (informal) used about a sum of money to emphasize how large it is
    • The car cost a cool thirty thousand.
  18. see also coolly, coolness
    Word OriginOld English cōl (noun), cōlian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koel, also to cold.
Idioms
(as) cool as a cucumber
  1. very calm and showing control, especially in a difficult situation
    • George is cool as a cucumber and this should be just another operation for him.
play it cool
  1. (informal) to deal with a situation in a calm way and not show what you are really feeling
    • I decided to play it cool and act like I had actually forgotten all about it.
take a long (cool/hard) look at something
  1. to consider a problem or possibility very carefully and without hurrying
    • We need to take a long, hard look at all the options.
too cool for school
  1. (informal) very fashionable
    • The assistants look like they're too cool for school.
See cool in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee cool in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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