chill

[chil]

noun

1. coldness, especially a moderate but uncomfortably penetrating coldness.

   the chill of evening.

2. a sensation of cold, usually with shivering.

   She felt a slight chill from the open window.

3. a feeling of sudden fear, anxiety, or alarm.

4. sudden coldness of the body, as during the cold stage of an ague.

   fevers and chills.

5. a depressing influence or sensation.

   His presence cast a chill over everyone.

6. lack of warmth of feeling; unfriendliness; coolness.

7. Foundry.,  an inserted object or a surface in a mold capable of absorbing large amounts of heat, used to harden the surface of a casting or to increase its rate of solidification at a specific point.

8. bloom.

adjective

1. moderately cold; tending to cause shivering; chilly.

   a chill wind.

2. shivering with or affected by cold; chilly.

3. depressing or discouraging.

   chill prospects.

4. Slang.,  cool.

5. unduly formal; unfriendly; chilly.

   a chill reception.

   Synonyms: stiff, hostile, aloof, cold

verb (used without object)

1. to become cold.

   The earth chills when the sun sets.

2. to be seized with a chill; shiver with cold or fear.

3. Foundry.,  (of a casting) to become hard on the surface by contact with a chill or chills.

4. Slang.,  to calm down; relax (often followed byout ).

verb (used with object)

1. to affect with cold; make chilly.

   The rain has chilled me to the bone.

2. to make cool.

   Chill the wine before serving.

3. to depress; discourage; deter.

   The news chilled his hopes.

4. Foundry.,  to harden the surface of (a casting) by casting it in a mold having a chill or chills.

5. bloom.

6. Slang.,  to kill; murder.

chill

/ tʃɪl /

noun

1. a moderate coldness

2. a sensation of coldness resulting from a cold or damp environment, or from a sudden emotional reaction

3. a feverish cold

4. a check on enthusiasm or joy

5. a metal plate placed in a sand mould to accelerate cooling and control local grain growth

6. another name for bloom 1

adjective

1. another word for chilly

verb

1. to make or become cold

2. (tr) to cool or freeze (food, drinks, etc)

3. (tr)

   1. to depress (enthusiasm, etc)

   2. to discourage

4. (tr) to cool (a casting or metal object) rapidly in order to prevent the formation of large grains in the metal

5. slang,  (intr) to relax; calm oneself

Other Word Forms

• chillingly adverb
• chillness noun
• overchill verb
• prechill verb (used with object)
• unchilled adjective
• well-chilled adjective
• chilling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chill¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English chile, Old English cele, ci(e)le “coolness”; cool, cold; akin to Latin gelāre “to freeze,” gelum “frost, cold,” glaciēs “ice” ( gelato, gelid, glacier )

Word History and Origins

Origin of chill¹

Old English ciele; related to calan to _cool , Latin gelidus icy

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a chill pill, See chill pill.

Synonym Study

See cold.

Example Sentences

Whether you’re laying out a full spread at home or hauling a hard-won potluck contribution across town, its insulated design keeps hot food hot and chilled dishes cool.

Read more on Salon

A welcome contribution to the 5 p.m. rite, this bright-yellow box of 10 savory cheese biscuits pairs perfectly with a chilled Beaujolais. is.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the upheaval and increased ICE presence hasn’t completely chilled community action.

Read more on Salon

“It sends a chill up your spine, and everybody is worried,” said Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio, who said he did not receive a letter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That’s incredibly painful, but you can’t come to someone’s funeral who was part of your community or your friend, or even people you don’t know, and be just chill about it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• biting 
• chilly 
• freezing 
• frigid 
• frosty 
• icy 
• wintry