common cold: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral. Common in both everyday and medical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “common cold” mean?
A mild viral infection of the nose and throat, causing symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mild viral infection of the nose and throat, causing symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat.
The term can be used metaphorically to describe a minor, widespread, and easily caught ailment or problem in a non-medical context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase itself is identical. 'Cold' is the standard short form in both. 'Head cold' is also used in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical. Associated with mild, temporary illness.
Frequency
Slightly more formal than just 'a cold'. 'Common cold' is frequent in medical/health advice contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “common cold” in a Sentence
have a common coldsuffer from a common coldbe recovering from a common coldVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “common cold” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's common-colding again, sniffling all over the paperwork. (informal/non-standard)
American English
- She common-colded her way through the conference, passing tissues. (informal/non-standard)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Productivity dipped slightly as a common cold went through the office."
Academic
"Research into a cure for the common cold has been ongoing for decades."
Everyday
"I can't come to the party; I think I'm getting a common cold."
Technical
"Rhinoviruses are the most frequent causative agents of the common cold."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “common cold”
- Incorrect: 'I have common cold.' Correct: 'I have a common cold' or 'I have the common cold.'
- Incorrect: 'common flu' (flu is different). Correct: 'common cold' or just 'flu'.
- Confusing 'common cold' with 'influenza' (flu), which is typically more severe.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The flu is caused by influenza viruses, has a sudden onset, and features more severe symptoms like high fever, significant body aches, and fatigue. A common cold is milder, focuses on the nose and throat, and is usually caused by rhinoviruses.
No, there is no vaccine. This is because it is caused by over 200 different viruses (mainly rhinoviruses), making a single vaccine impractical.
No, antibiotics treat bacterial infections, and the common cold is viral. Using antibiotics for a cold is ineffective and contributes to antibiotic resistance.
The name likely comes from the similarity of symptoms to exposure to cold weather (chills, runny nose). Historically, it was thought to be caused by cold conditions, though we now know it's viral.
A mild viral infection of the nose and throat, causing symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat.
Common cold is usually neutral. common in both everyday and medical contexts. in register.
Common cold: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒmən ˈkəʊld/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːmən ˈkoʊld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Catching a cold (from an investment): suffering a financial loss.”
- “To throw cold water on something: to discourage an idea.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: It's COMMON because many people catch it, and it makes you feel COLD (shivery) even though it's not a serious flu.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLNESS IS AN INVADER / ILLNESS IS A THIEF (e.g., 'a cold stole my weekend').
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a key characteristic of the common cold?