cold type: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1All registers: informal to formal, with extended metaphorical uses common in literature and psychology.
Quick answer
What does “cold type” mean?
Low temperature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Low temperature; lacking warmth or heat.
Emotionally distant, unfeeling; (of food/drink) not heated; (of facts/data) objective, without emotion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Cold snap' and 'cold spell' are equally common in both. 'Catch a cold' is universal, but 'have a cold' is slightly more common in US.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. In informal contexts, 'cold' can mean 'excellent' or 'impressive' in certain youth slang (originating in US, but understood in UK).
Frequency
Equally high frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “cold type” in a Sentence
It is [ADJ: cold] outside.She felt [ADJ: cold].He gave her a [ADJ: cold] stare.Serve [NP: the soup] cold.The data presents a [ADJ: cold] reality.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cold type” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Rare as a verb. Informal: 'He colded the dog for barking.' (Non-standard/rare).
American English
- Rare as a verb. Informal: 'She colded him for being late.' (Non-standard/rare).
adverb
British English
- He stopped cold when he saw the shadow.
- The facts hit her cold. (informal)
American English
- She quit her job cold turkey.
- He played the solo cold, without any rehearsal.
adjective
British English
- The stone floor was terribly cold underfoot.
- His response was rather cold and dismissive.
- Would you like your tea hot or cold?
American English
- The wind coming off the lake is brutally cold.
- She gave him a cold look that stopped him mid-sentence.
- I prefer my soda ice-cold.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The cold hard facts of the quarterly report forced a strategic rethink."
Academic
"The study employed a cold, analytical approach to the demographic data."
Everyday
"Don't forget your coat; it's really cold today!"
Technical
"The system requires a cold start after a complete power failure."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cold type”
- Incorrect: "I have cold." Correct: "I have *a* cold." (when ill).
- Incorrect: "I am boring with cold weather." Correct: "I am *bored* with cold weather."
- Incorrect: "This coffee is coldly." Correct: "This coffee is cold." (No -ly for physical temperature adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are perfectly correct and common. 'Catch a cold' is slightly more idiomatic, while 'get a cold' is very frequent in everyday speech.
'Cold' implies a temperature low enough to be uncomfortable or cause shivering. 'Cool' implies a pleasantly low temperature, often refreshing. Metaphorically, 'cool' can mean calm or fashionable, while 'cold' means unfriendly or unemotional.
Yes, primarily in two ways: 1) The general state of low temperature (e.g., 'Don't go out in the cold.'). 2) The common illness (e.g., 'I've got a bad cold.').
It means to do something, especially kill someone, in a deliberate, ruthless, and unemotional way, without passion or mercy.
Low temperature.
Cold type is usually all registers: informal to formal, with extended metaphorical uses common in literature and psychology. in register.
Cold type: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊld/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “leave someone out in the cold”
- “pour/throw cold water on something”
- “cold comfort”
- “get/have cold feet”
- “in cold blood”
- “blow hot and cold”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine holding a CUBE of OLD ice. C(ube) + OLD = COLD.
Conceptual Metaphor
AFFECTION IS WARMTH / LACK OF AFFECTION IS COLD (e.g., a cold welcome, a cold relationship).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to suddenly become too scared to do something you planned'?