a mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs)
"will they never find a cure for the common cold?"
the absence of heat
"the coldness made our breath visible"
"come in out of the cold"
"cold is a vasoconstrictor"
A condition of low temperature.
"The thermometer showed a sudden drop, confirming that the cold was finally arriving in earnest."
In plain English: A cold is a minor illness that makes your nose run and throat hurt.
"She caught a cold from being out in the rain without a coat."
Usage: Use "cold" as a noun specifically to describe an illness affecting the nose and throat, not to refer to low temperatures. You should say you have a cold when you are sick, whereas you have the flu or a chill when experiencing other ailments or low heat.
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"
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"
having lost freshness through passage of time
"a cold trail"
"dogs attempting to catch a cold scent"
lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new
"moth-eaten theories about race"
"stale news"
without compunction or human feeling
"in cold blood"
"cold-blooded killing"
"insensate destruction"
of a seeker; far from the object sought
"The detective's cold pursuit led him to follow every clue without missing a single lead."
Having a low temperature.
"The soup has gone cold after sitting on the counter for too long."
In plain English: Cold means having a low temperature that feels chilly to the touch.
"It is very cold outside today, so I wore my heavy coat."
Usage: Use "cold" to describe objects or environments that have a low temperature, such as ice water or winter air. Avoid using it for emotions unless specifically referring to being unfeeling or distant toward someone.
While at low temperature.
"The soup turned out to be cold because I left it on the counter for too long."
In plain English: To do something coldly means to act without showing any emotion or warmth.
"The soup is cold, so we will wait until it warms up before eating."
Usage: Use "cold" as an adverb only in the specific phrase "coldly," which describes doing something without emotion or kindness; do not use "cold" directly before verbs to mean "without heat." Instead, place it after a verb like "go cold" to indicate stopping activity due to low temperature.
The word "cold" entered English from Middle English and Old English, where it originally described the physical sensation of low temperature. Its roots trace back through various Germanic languages to a common ancestor meaning simply "to be cold."