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

lukewarm

adjective
 
/ˌluːkˈwɔːm/
 
/ˌluːkˈwɔːrm/
(often disapproving)
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  1. slightly warm synonym tepid
    • Our food was only lukewarm.
    • Heat the milk until it is just lukewarm.
    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
    • Add half a cup of lukewarm water to the mixture.
    • Her coffee was now lukewarm.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • seem
    • …
    adverb
    • rather
    • only
    • decidedly
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    See full entry
  2. not interested or enthusiastic
    • a lukewarm response
    • lukewarm about somebody/something She was lukewarm about the plan.
    Extra Examples
    • He was distinctly lukewarm about my idea.
    • She was disappointed by the lukewarm support from Washington.
    • Union leaders were at best lukewarm in their response.
    Topics Feelingsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • feel
    • seem
    • …
    adverb
    • rather
    • only
    • decidedly
    • …
    preposition
    • about
    See full entry
    3. Word Originlate Middle English: from dialect luke (probably from dialect lew ‘lukewarm’ and related to lee) + warm.
See lukewarm in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: lukewarm

Nearby words

generic
adjective
 
 
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