cosy

[ koh-zee ]

/ ˈkoʊ zi /

adjective, co·si·er, co·si·est, noun, plural co·sies, verb, co·sied, co·sy·ing.

cozy.

Nearby words

Origin of cosy

First recorded in 1700–10

Related formsco·si·ly, adverbco·si·ness, noun

Definition for cosy (2 of 2)

cozy

or co·sy, co·zey, co·zie

[ koh-zee ]

/ ˈkoʊ zi /

adjective, co·zi·er, co·zi·est.

snugly warm and comfortable: a cozy little house.

convenient or beneficial, usually as a result of dishonesty or connivance: a very cozy agreement between competing firms.

suggesting opportunistic or conspiratorial intimacy: a cozy relationship between lobbyists and some politicians.

discreetly reticent or noncommittal: The administrators are remaining cozy about which policy they plan to adopt.

noun, plural co·zies.

a padded covering for a teapot, chocolate pot, etc., to retain the heat.

verb (used with object), co·zied, co·zy·ing.

to make more cozy (often followed by up): New curtains would cozy the room up a bit.

Verb Phrases

cozy up (to), Informal.

to move closer for comfort or affection: Come over to the fire and cozy up a bit.
to try to become friendly or intimate in order to further one's own ends; attempt to ingratiate oneself: He's always cozying up to the boss.

Origin of cozy

1700–10; orig. Scots; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian koselig cozy, kose seg to enjoy oneself

SYNONYMS FOR cozy

1 snug, comfy, homey, sheltered.

Related formsco·zi·ly, adverbco·zi·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cosy

Mun Bun and Margy fell asleep almost at once, it was so warm and cosy in Grandpa's sled.
Six Little Bunkers at Grandpa Ford's|Laura Lee Hope
He wondered in a vague way, however, whether Marietta did not have the sweeter temperament—were not really more lovable and cosy.
The "Genius"|Theodore Dreiser
There would be a cosy living room and a paneled dining room.
The Garden of Eden|Max Brand
I want you to sit down in that cosy chair there, and light your cigar—oh, or your pipe!
The Way of Ambition|Robert Hichens

No rest, no cosy fireside nook: still the bitter wind, and the half-frozen slime and slush rising above the ankle.
The Toilers of the Field|Richard Jefferies

British Dictionary definitions for cosy (1 of 2)

cosy

US cozy

/ (ˈkəʊzɪ) /

adjective -sier or -siest or US -zier or -ziest

warm and snug

intimate; friendly

convenient, esp for devious purposesa cosy deal

noun plural -sies or US -zies

a cover for keeping things warmegg cosy

Derived Formscosily or US cozily, adverbcosiness or US coziness, noun

Word Origin for cosy

C18: from Scots, of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for cosy (2 of 2)

cozy

/ (ˈkəʊzɪ) /

adjective, noun -zier or -ziest or plural -zies

the usual US spelling of cosy

Derived Formscozily, adverbcoziness, 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

Word Origin and History for cosy (1 of 2)

cosy

adj.

chiefly British form of cozy.

Word Origin and History for cosy (1 of 2)

cozy

adj.

1709, colsie, Scottish dialect, perhaps of Scandinavian origin (cf. Norwegian kose seg "be cozy"). In Britain, usually cosy. Related: Cozily; coziness.