ku:l adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 of or at a
fairly low
temperature, fairly
cold (a cool
day; a cool bath). 2 suggesting or achieving coolness (cool colours; cool clothes). 3
calm, unexcited. 4
lacking zeal or
enthusiasm. 5
unfriendly; lacking cordiality (got a cool reception). 6 (of
jazz playing) restrained, relaxed. 7 calmly
audacious (a cool customer). 8 (prec. by a) colloq. at
least;
not less than (cost me a cool thousand). 9 sl.
esp. US
excellent,
marvellous. --n. 1 coolness. 2 cool
air; a cool
place. 3 sl. calmness,
composure (keep one's cool;
lose one's cool). --v.tr. & intr. (often foll. by down, off)
make or
become cool. øcool-bag (or -box) an insulated
container for keeping food cool. cool-headed not
easily excited. cool one's heels see
HEEL(1). cooling-off
period an
interval to
allow for a
change of
mind before commitment to
action. cooling
tower a
tall structure for cooling
hot water before
reuse, esp. in
industry. cool it sl.
relax, calm down. øøcoolish adj. coolly adv. coolness n. [OE
col, colian, f. Gmc:
cf. COLD]
