common cold

American  

noun

1. cold.

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common cold British  

noun

1. a mild viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, characterized by sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, nasal congestion, sore throat, etc

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common cold Scientific  

/ kŏm′ən /

1. A respiratory infection caused by any of several viruses, such as adenovirus or rhinovirus, in which the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and throat become inflamed. Common-cold symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, sneezing, and coughing.

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Etymology

Origin of common cold

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

It uses a common cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees but has been genetically engineered to make it safe for people.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

The findings, published in Nature Communications, explain how viruses responsible for illnesses such as polio, encephalitis, myocarditis, and even the common cold take control of cellular machinery to copy themselves.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

Endemicity is when an infection is constantly present, like the common cold.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

“Inhaling pollution or cigarette smoke really changes the immune response to the next thing you’re exposed to, like a common cold virus, and that usually means a more detrimental inflammatory response,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Television is like a strain of the common cold that can spread like lightning through a population, but only causes a few sniffles and is gone in a day.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell