3 ADJ Clothing that is cool is made of thin material so that you do not become too hot in hot weather. □ In warm weather, you should wear clothing that is cool and comfortable.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Cool colours are light colours which give an impression of coolness. □ Choose a cool colour such as cream.
5 VERB When something cools or when you cool it, it becomes lower in temperature. □ [V ] Drain the meat and allow it to cool. □ [V n] Huge fans will have to cool the concrete floor to keep it below 150 degrees. □ [V -ing] …a cooling breeze. ● PHRASAL VERB To cool down means the same as to cool . □ [V P ] Avoid putting your car away until the engine has cooled down. □ [V n P ] The other main way the body cools itself down is by panting. [Also V P n (not pron)]
6 VERB When a feeling or emotion cools , or when you cool it, it becomes less powerful. □ [V ] Within a few minutes tempers had cooled. □ [V n] His weird behaviour had cooled her passion.
7 ADJ If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool , you mean that they are calm and unemotional, especially in a difficult situation. [APPROVAL ] □ He was marvellously cool again, smiling as if nothing had happened. ● cool|ly ADV □ Everyone must think this situation through calmly and coolly. □ …coolly 'objective' professionals.
8 ADJ If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool , you mean that they are unfriendly or not enthusiastic. □ I didn't like him at all. I thought he was cool, aloof, and arrogant. □ The idea met with a cool response. ● cool|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ 'It's your choice, Nina,' David said coolly.
9 ADJ If you say that a person or their behaviour is cool , you mean that they are fashionable and attractive. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ He was trying to be really cool and trendy.
10 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is cool about something, you mean that they accept it and are not angry or upset about it. [mainly AM , INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ [+ about ] Bev was really cool about it all.
11 ADJ If you say that something is cool , you think it is very good. [INFORMAL ] □ Kathleen gave me a really cool dress.
12 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use cool to emphasize that an amount or figure is very large, especially when it has been obtained easily. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ Columbia recently re-signed the band for a cool $30 million.
13 PHRASE If you keep your cool in a difficult situation, you manage to remain calm. If you lose your cool , you get angry or upset. [INFORMAL ] □ She kept her cool and managed to get herself out of the ordeal.
14 PHRASE If you play it cool , you deliberately behave in a calm, unemotional way because you do not want people to know you are enthusiastic or angry about something. [INFORMAL ] □ It's ridiculous to play it cool if someone you're mad about is mad about you too.
15 as cool as a cucumber → see cucumber
▸ cool down
1 → see cool 5
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone cools down or if you cool them down , they become less angry than they were. □ [V P ] He has had time to cool down and look at what happened more objectively. □ [V P n] First McNeil had to cool down the volatile Australian 20-year old.
▸ cool off PHRASAL VERB If someone or something cools off , or if you cool them off , they become cooler after having been hot. □ [V P ] Maybe he's trying to cool off out there in the rain. □ [V n P ] She made a fanning motion, pretending to cool herself off. □ [V P n] Cool off the carrots quickly.
cool|ant /kuː lənt/ (coolants ) N‑VAR Coolant is a liquid used to keep a machine or engine cool while it is operating.
cool|er /kuː lə r / (coolers )
1 N‑COUNT A cooler is a container for keeping things cool, especially drinks.
2 → see also cool
coo l-hea ded ADJ If you describe someone as cool-headed , you mean that they stay calm in difficult situations. [APPROVAL ] □ She has a reputation for being calm and cool-headed. □ …a cool-headed, responsible statesman.
coo ling-o ff period (cooling-off periods ) N‑COUNT A cooling-off period is an agreed period of time during which two sides with opposing views try to resolve a dispute before taking any serious action. □ There should be a seven-day cooling-off period between a strike ballot and industrial action.
coo l|ing tow|er (cooling towers ) N‑COUNT A cooling tower is a very large, round, high building which is used to cool water from factories or power stations. □ …landscapes dominated by cooling towers and factory chimneys.
coon /kuː n/ (coons )
1 N‑COUNT A coon is a raccoon . [AM , INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT Coon is an extremely offensive word for a black person. [INFORMAL , VERY OFFENSIVE ]
coop /kuː p/ (coops ) N‑COUNT A coop is a cage where you keep small animals or birds such as chickens and rabbits.
co -op (co-ops ) N‑COUNT A co-op is a co-operative. [INFORMAL ] □ The co-op sells the art work at exhibitions.
cooped up /kuː pt ʌ p/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is cooped up , you mean that they live or are kept in a place which is too small, or which does not allow them much freedom. □ He is cooped up in a cramped cell with 10 other inmates.