warm

[wawrm]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR warm ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, warm·er, warm·est.

having or giving out a moderate degree of heat, as perceived by the senses: a warm bath.

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

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

conserving or maintaining warmth or heat: warm clothes.

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

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

strongly attached; intimate: warm friends.

cordial or hearty: a warm welcome.

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

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

strong or fresh: a warm scent.

close to something sought, as in a game.

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

British Informal. well off; in easy circumstances.

verb (used with object)

to make warm; heat (often followed by up): to warm one's hands; to warm up a room.

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

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

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

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)

to become warm or warmer (often followed by up): The room will warm up when the fire gets going.

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

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

noun

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

Verb Phrases

warm down, to conclude or follow a period of strenuous physical exercise by walking or gentle stretching.

warm up,

to prepare for a game, sports contest, dance, etc., by moderate exercise or practice beforehand.
to increase in excitement, intensity, violence, etc.: The racial situation was warming up.
to become friendlier or more receptive: No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't warm up to that proposal.
Radio and Television.to entertain (an audience) prior to a broadcast to increase receptiveness.

Idioms

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

before 900; (adj.) Middle English werm, warm, Old English wearm; cognate with German warm, Old Norse varmr; (v.) Middle English warmen, wermen, Old English werman, wirman (transitive), wearmian (intransitive), both akin to the adj.; (noun) derivative of the v.

Related formswarm·er, nounwarm·ish, adjectivewarm·ly, adverbwarm·ness, nouno·ver·warmed, adjectivepre·warm, verb (used with object)re·warm, verbun·warmed, adjectiveun·warm·ing, adjectivewell-warmed, adjective

Synonyms for warm

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR warm ON THESAURUS.COM

1. lukewarm, tepid, heated. 6. hearty, enthusiastic, fervent, fervid, emotional, ardent. 7. friendly, close. 8. fervent. 9. annoyed, vexed, irate, furious. 10. vehement. 17. animate, excite, waken, stir, rouse, arouse.

Antonyms for warm

1–3, 5, 8. cool.

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

Related Words for warmer

temperate, lukewarm, tepid, sunny, mild, balmy, pleasant, hot, sweltering, heated, cordial, cheerful, affectionate, heartfelt, happy, warmhearted, hearty, hospitable, tender, loving

Examples from the Web for warmer

Contemporary Examples of warmer

As the Cold War entered its final years, the film enjoyed a warmer reception in Russia.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies
Asawin Suebsaeng
December 17, 2014
Like thinner and translucent for summer and warmer for winter.
Tatiana Sorokko Is the Queen of Vintage Couture
Anthony Haden-Guest
October 8, 2014
More than six years later, the oceans have continued their rise and the planet is ever warmer.
Dem Donors’ Lysistrata Moment on Climate Change
David Freedlander
September 18, 2014
Hers was a warmer, less profane speech, again in memory of a much-missed buddy.
I Was There: Inside Joan Rivers’ Funeral
Tim Teeman
September 8, 2014
So there's many different reasons why you do things, but I'm actively pursuing the warmer, nicer people.
‘Surviving Jack’ Star Rachael Harris Is No Longer ‘The Bitch'
Kevin Fallon
March 27, 2014

Historical Examples of warmer

A warmer flush than that of firelight alone lay on her cheek.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
She was not herself any more; she had gone back a generation, and chosen a warmer niche.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown
Then why doesn't the Father of Lights shine more on him and make him warmer?
Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood
George MacDonald
The sun is shining as much on the earth in the winter as in the summer: why is the earth no warmer?
Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood
George MacDonald
But I believe that we made it warmer for Zeke and his gang than they did for us.
The Dare Boys of 1776
Stephen Angus Cox

British Dictionary definitions for warmer

warm

adjective

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

maintaining or imparting heata warm coat

having or showing ready affection, kindliness, etca warm personality

lively, vigorous, or passionatea warm debate

cordial or enthusiastic; ardentwarm support

quickly or easily arouseda warm temper

(of colours) predominantly red or yellow in tone

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

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

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

verb

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

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

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

(tr) British to give a caning toI'll warm you in a minute

noun

informal a warm place or areacome into the warm

informal the act or an instance of warming or being warmed

Word Origin for warm

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

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 warmer

warm

Old English wyrman "make warm" and wearmian "become warm;" from the root of warm (adj.). Phrase warm the bench is sports jargon first recorded 1907. Warm up (v.) "exercise before an activity" is attested from 1868. In reference to appliances, motors, etc., attested from 1947. Noun phrase warm-up "act or practice of warming up" is recorded from 1915. Related: Warmed; warming.

SCOTCH WARMING PAN. A wench. [Grose, "Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue," 1788]

warm

adj.

Old English wearm, from Proto-Germanic *warmaz (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Old High German, German warm, Old Norse varmr, Gothic warmjan "to warm"), from PIE *gwher- (cf. Sanskrit gharmah "heat;" Old Persian Garmapada-, name of the fourth month, corresponding to June/July, from garma- "heat;" Armenian jerm "warm;" Greek thermos "warm;" Latin formus "warm," fornax "oven;" Old Irish fogeir "heated;" Hittite war- "to burn"). The root also may be connected to that of Old Church Slavonic goriti "to burn," varu "heat," variti "to cook, boil;" and Lithuanian verdu "to seethe."

The distinction, based on degree of heat, between "warm" and "hot" is general in Balto-Slavic and Germanic, but in other languages one word often covers both (cf. Latin calidus, Greek thermos, French chaud, Spanish caliente). In reference to feelings, etc., attested from late 15c. Sense in guessing games first recorded 1860, from earlier hunting use in reference to scent or trail (1713). Warm-blooded in reference to mammals is recorded from 1793. Warm-hearted first recorded c.1500.

Idioms and Phrases with warmer

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)