cool
♦♦ cool /k'uːl/ (cooler coolest cools cooling cooled)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is cool has a temperature which is low but not very low.
I felt a current of cool air...
The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators.
≠ warm
2 [ADJ] oft it v-link ADJ
If it is cool, or if a place is cool, the temperature of the air is low but not very low.
Thank goodness it's cool in here...
Store grains and cereals in a cool, dry place.
...a cool November evening.
≠ warm
[N-SING] the N, oft N of n
Cool is also a noun.
She walked into the cool of the hallway.
3 [ADJ]
Clothing that is cool is made of thin material so that you do not become too hot in hot weather.
In warm weather, you should wear clothing that is cool and comfortable.
≠ warm
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Cool colours are light colours which give an impression of coolness.
Choose a cool colour such as cream...
≠ warm
5 [VERB] V, V n, V-ing
When something cools or when you cool it, it becomes lower in temperature.
Drain the meat and allow it to cool...
Huge fans will have to cool the concrete floor to keep it below 150 degrees.
...a cooling breeze.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P
To cool down means the same as to cool.
Avoid putting your car away until the engine has cooled down...
The other main way the body cools itself down is by panting.
6 [VERB] V, V n
When a feeling or emotion cools, or when you cool it, it becomes less powerful.
Within a few minutes tempers had cooled...
His weird behaviour had cooled her passion.
7 [ADJ]
If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are calm and unemotional, especially in a difficult situation.
He was marvelously cool again, smiling as if nothing had happened...
= calm
● coolly [ADV]
Everyone must think this situation through calmly and coolly.
...coolly `objective' professionals.
8 [ADJ]
If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are unfriendly or not enthusiastic.
I didn't like him at all. I thought he was cool, aloof, and arrogant...
The idea met with a cool response...
● coolly [ADV] usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
`It's your choice, Nina,' David said coolly.
9 [ADJ]
If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are fashionable and attractive. (INFORMAL)
He was trying to be really cool and trendy.
10 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n
If you say that someone is cool about something, you mean that they accept it and are not angry or upset about it. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
Bev was really cool about it all.
11 [ADJ]
If you say that something is cool, you think it is very good. (INFORMAL)
Kathleen gave me a really cool dress.
= neat
12 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use cool to emphasize that an amount or figure is very large, especially when it has been obtained easily. (INFORMAL)
Columbia recently re-signed the band for a cool $30 million.
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you keep your cool in a difficult situation, you manage to remain calm. If you lose your cool, you get angry or upset. (INFORMAL)
She kept her cool and managed to get herself out of the ordeal...
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you play it cool, you deliberately behave in a calm, unemotional way because you do not want people to know you are enthusiastic or angry about something. (INFORMAL)
It's ridiculous to play it cool if someone you're mad about is mad about you too.
15
as cool as a cucumber: see cucumbercool down
1
see cool 5
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron)
If someone cools down or if you cool them down, they become less angry than they were.
He has had time to cool down and look at what happened more objectively...
First McNeil had to cool down the volatile Australian 20-year old.
= calm downcool off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, V P n (not pron)
If someone or something cools off, or if you cool them off, they become cooler after having been hot.
Maybe he's trying to cool off out there in the rain...
She made a fanning motion, pretending to cool herself off...
Cool off the carrots quickly.
1 [ADJ]
Something that is cool has a temperature which is low but not very low.
I felt a current of cool air...
The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators.
≠ warm
2 [ADJ] oft it v-link ADJ
If it is cool, or if a place is cool, the temperature of the air is low but not very low.
Thank goodness it's cool in here...
Store grains and cereals in a cool, dry place.
...a cool November evening.
≠ warm
[N-SING] the N, oft N of n
Cool is also a noun.
She walked into the cool of the hallway.
3 [ADJ]
Clothing that is cool is made of thin material so that you do not become too hot in hot weather.
In warm weather, you should wear clothing that is cool and comfortable.
≠ warm
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Cool colours are light colours which give an impression of coolness.
Choose a cool colour such as cream...
≠ warm
5 [VERB] V, V n, V-ing
When something cools or when you cool it, it becomes lower in temperature.
Drain the meat and allow it to cool...
Huge fans will have to cool the concrete floor to keep it below 150 degrees.
...a cooling breeze.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P
To cool down means the same as to cool.
Avoid putting your car away until the engine has cooled down...
The other main way the body cools itself down is by panting.
6 [VERB] V, V n
When a feeling or emotion cools, or when you cool it, it becomes less powerful.
Within a few minutes tempers had cooled...
His weird behaviour had cooled her passion.
7 [ADJ]
If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are calm and unemotional, especially in a difficult situation.
He was marvelously cool again, smiling as if nothing had happened...
= calm
● coolly [ADV]
Everyone must think this situation through calmly and coolly.
...coolly `objective' professionals.
8 [ADJ]
If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are unfriendly or not enthusiastic.
I didn't like him at all. I thought he was cool, aloof, and arrogant...
The idea met with a cool response...
● coolly [ADV] usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
`It's your choice, Nina,' David said coolly.
9 [ADJ]
If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool, you mean that they are fashionable and attractive. (INFORMAL)
He was trying to be really cool and trendy.
10 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n
If you say that someone is cool about something, you mean that they accept it and are not angry or upset about it. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
Bev was really cool about it all.
11 [ADJ]
If you say that something is cool, you think it is very good. (INFORMAL)
Kathleen gave me a really cool dress.
= neat
12 [ADJ] ADJ n
You can use cool to emphasize that an amount or figure is very large, especially when it has been obtained easily. (INFORMAL)
Columbia recently re-signed the band for a cool $30 million.
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you keep your cool in a difficult situation, you manage to remain calm. If you lose your cool, you get angry or upset. (INFORMAL)
She kept her cool and managed to get herself out of the ordeal...
14 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you play it cool, you deliberately behave in a calm, unemotional way because you do not want people to know you are enthusiastic or angry about something. (INFORMAL)
It's ridiculous to play it cool if someone you're mad about is mad about you too.
15
as cool as a cucumber: see cucumbercool down
1
see cool 5
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron)
If someone cools down or if you cool them down, they become less angry than they were.
He has had time to cool down and look at what happened more objectively...
First McNeil had to cool down the volatile Australian 20-year old.
= calm downcool off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, V P n (not pron)
If someone or something cools off, or if you cool them off, they become cooler after having been hot.
Maybe he's trying to cool off out there in the rain...
She made a fanning motion, pretending to cool herself off...
Cool off the carrots quickly.