calm
♦ calm /k'ɑːm/ (calmer calmest calms calming calmed)
1 [ADJ]
A calm person does not show or feel any worry, anger, or excitement.
She is usually a calm and diplomatic woman...
Try to keep calm and just tell me what happened...
She sighed, then continued in a soft, calm voice...
[N-UNCOUNT] also a N
Calm is also a noun.
He felt a sudden sense of calm, of contentment.
● calmly [ADV] usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
Alan looked at him and said calmly, `I don't believe you.'
2 [VERB] V n, V n
If you calm someone, you do something to make them feel less angry, worried, or excited.
She was breathing quickly and tried to calm herself...
Some people say smoking calms your nerves.
● calming [ADJ]
...a fresh, cool fragrance which produces a very calming effect on the mind.
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Calm is used to refer to a quiet, still, or peaceful atmosphere in a place.
...the rural calm of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
= peace
4 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If someone says that a place is calm, they mean that it is free from fighting or public disorder, when trouble has recently occurred there or had been expected. (JOURNALISM)
The city of Sarajevo appears relatively calm today.
= peaceful
[N-UNCOUNT] also a N
Calm is also a noun.
Community and church leaders have appealed for calm and no retaliation...
5 [VERB] V n
To calm a situation means to reduce the amount of trouble, violence, or panic there is.
Mr Beazer tried to calm the protests by promising to keep the company's base in Pittsburgh.
6 [ADJ]
If the sea or a lake is calm, the water is not moving very much and there are no big waves.
...as we slid into the calm waters of Cowes Harbour.
= still
≠ rough
7 [ADJ]
Calm weather is pleasant weather with little or no wind.
Tuesday was a fine, clear and calm day.
8 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
In sailing, a flat calm or a dead calm is a condition of the sea or the weather in which there is very little wind or movement of the water. (TECHNICAL)
9 [VERB] V
When the sea calms, it becomes still because the wind stops blowing strongly. When the wind calms, it stops blowing strongly.
Dawn came, the sea calmed but the cold was as bitter as ever.
10 [PHRASE]
You can use the calm before the storm to refer to a quiet period in which there is little or no activity, before a period in which there is a lot of trouble or intense activity.calm down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you calm down, or if someone calms you down, you become less angry, upset, or excited.
Calm down for a minute and listen to me...
Do not have a drink or take drugs to calm yourself down.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P
If things calm down, or someone or something calms things down, the amount of activity, trouble, or panic is reduced.
We will go back to normal when things calm down...
Neil Howorth, director of the academy, tried to calm things down.
= settle down
1 [ADJ]
A calm person does not show or feel any worry, anger, or excitement.
She is usually a calm and diplomatic woman...
Try to keep calm and just tell me what happened...
She sighed, then continued in a soft, calm voice...
[N-UNCOUNT] also a N
Calm is also a noun.
He felt a sudden sense of calm, of contentment.
● calmly [ADV] usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
Alan looked at him and said calmly, `I don't believe you.'
2 [VERB] V n, V n
If you calm someone, you do something to make them feel less angry, worried, or excited.
She was breathing quickly and tried to calm herself...
Some people say smoking calms your nerves.
● calming [ADJ]
...a fresh, cool fragrance which produces a very calming effect on the mind.
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Calm is used to refer to a quiet, still, or peaceful atmosphere in a place.
...the rural calm of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
= peace
4 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If someone says that a place is calm, they mean that it is free from fighting or public disorder, when trouble has recently occurred there or had been expected. (JOURNALISM)
The city of Sarajevo appears relatively calm today.
= peaceful
[N-UNCOUNT] also a N
Calm is also a noun.
Community and church leaders have appealed for calm and no retaliation...
5 [VERB] V n
To calm a situation means to reduce the amount of trouble, violence, or panic there is.
Mr Beazer tried to calm the protests by promising to keep the company's base in Pittsburgh.
6 [ADJ]
If the sea or a lake is calm, the water is not moving very much and there are no big waves.
...as we slid into the calm waters of Cowes Harbour.
= still
≠ rough
7 [ADJ]
Calm weather is pleasant weather with little or no wind.
Tuesday was a fine, clear and calm day.
8 [N-COUNT] usu supp N
In sailing, a flat calm or a dead calm is a condition of the sea or the weather in which there is very little wind or movement of the water. (TECHNICAL)
9 [VERB] V
When the sea calms, it becomes still because the wind stops blowing strongly. When the wind calms, it stops blowing strongly.
Dawn came, the sea calmed but the cold was as bitter as ever.
10 [PHRASE]
You can use the calm before the storm to refer to a quiet period in which there is little or no activity, before a period in which there is a lot of trouble or intense activity.calm down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you calm down, or if someone calms you down, you become less angry, upset, or excited.
Calm down for a minute and listen to me...
Do not have a drink or take drugs to calm yourself down.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P
If things calm down, or someone or something calms things down, the amount of activity, trouble, or panic is reduced.
We will go back to normal when things calm down...
Neil Howorth, director of the academy, tried to calm things down.
= settle down