warm

[ wawrm ]
See synonyms for: warmwarmerwarmestwarming on Thesaurus.com

adjective,warm·er, warm·est.
  1. having or giving out a moderate degree of heat, as perceived by the senses: a warm bath.

  2. of or at a moderately high temperature; characterized by comparatively high temperature: a warm oven; a warm climate; a warm summer.

  1. having a sensation of bodily heat: to be warm from fast walking.

  2. conserving or maintaining warmth or heat: warm clothes.

  3. (of colors) suggestive of warmth; inclining toward red or orange rather than toward green or blue.

  4. characterized by or showing lively feelings, passions, emotions, sympathies, etc.: a warm heart; warm interest.

  5. strongly attached; intimate:warm friends.

  6. cordial or hearty: a warm welcome.

  7. heated, irritated, or angry: to become warm when contradicted.

  8. animated, lively, brisk, or vigorous: a warm debate.

  9. strong or fresh: a warm scent.

  10. close to something sought, as in a game.

  11. uncomfortable or unpleasant: His opponents made things so warm that he decided to quit.

  12. British Informal. well off; in easy circumstances.

verb (used with object)
  1. to make warm; heat (often followed by up): to warm one's hands; to warm up a room.

  2. to heat or cook (something) for reuse, as leftovers (usually followed by over or up): to warm up yesterday's stew.

  1. to excite enthusiasm, ardor, cheerfulness, or vitality in (someone): The wine soon warmed the company.

  2. to inspire with kindly feeling; affect with lively pleasure: It warms my soul to hear you say that.

  3. to fill (a person, crowd, etc.) with strong feelings, as hatred, anger, or zeal: Restrictions had warmed the crew to the point of mutiny.

verb (used without object)
  1. to become warm or warmer (often followed by up): The room will warm up when the fire gets going.

  2. to become ardent, enthusiastic, animated, etc. (often followed by up or to): The speaker quickly warmed to her subject.

  1. to grow kindly, friendly, or sympathetically disposed (often followed by to or toward): My heart warms toward him.

noun
  1. Informal. a warming: Sit by the fire and have a nice warm.

Verb Phrases
  1. warm down. See entry at warm-down.

  2. warm up. See entry at warmup.

Idioms about warm

  1. warm the bench, Sports. to serve as a substitute who rarely plays in a game: The young outfielder warmed the bench for the Yankees last season.

Origin of warm

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective werm, warm, wearm(e), Old English wearm; cognate with German warm, Old Norse varmr; akin to Latin formus “warm,” Greek thermós “warm,” Sanskrit gharmá- “heat,” Avestan garəma “hot,” Old Prussian gorme “heat,” Armenian ǰerm “warm”; the verb is akin to the adjective; the noun is derivative of the verb

Other words for warm

Opposites for warm

Other words from warm

  • warm·er, noun
  • warm·ish, adjective
  • warm·ly, adverb
  • warm·ness, noun
  • o·ver·warmed, adjective
  • pre·warm, verb (used with object)
  • re·warm, verb
  • un·warmed, adjective
  • un·warm·ing, adjective
  • well-warmed, adjective

Words Nearby warm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use warm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for warm

warm

/ (wɔːm) /


adjective
  1. characterized by or having a moderate degree of heat; moderately hot

  2. maintaining or imparting heat: a warm coat

  1. having or showing ready affection, kindliness, etc: a warm personality

  2. lively, vigorous, or passionate: a warm debate

  3. cordial or enthusiastic; ardent: warm support

  4. quickly or easily aroused: a warm temper

  5. (of colours) predominantly red or yellow in tone

  6. (of a scent, trail, etc) recently made; strong

  7. near to finding a hidden object or discovering or guessing facts, as in children's games

  8. informal uncomfortable or disagreeable, esp because of the proximity of danger

verb
  1. (sometimes foll by up) to raise or be raised in temperature; make or become warm or warmer

  2. (when intr, often foll by to) to make or become excited, enthusiastic, etc (about): he warmed to the idea of buying a new car

  1. (intr often foll by to) to feel affection, kindness, etc (for someone): I warmed to her mother from the start

  2. (tr) British to give a caning to: I'll warm you in a minute

noun
  1. informal a warm place or area: come into the warm

  2. informal the act or an instance of warming or being warmed

Origin of warm

1
Old English wearm; related to Old Frisian, Old Saxon warm, Old Norse varmr

Derived forms of warm

  • warmer, noun
  • warmish, adjective
  • warmly, adverb
  • warmness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with warm

warm

In addition to the idioms beginning with warm

  • warm as toast
  • warm heart
  • warm the bench
  • warm the cockles of one's heart
  • warm up
  • warm welcome

also see:

  • cold hands, warm heart
  • look like death (warmed over)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.