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Definition of 'chilly'

Word Frequency

chilly

(tʃɪli )

Word forms: comparative chillier , superlative chilliest

1. adjective

Something that is chilly is unpleasantly cold.

It was a chilly afternoon.

The rooms had grown chilly.

Synonyms: cool, fresh, sharp, crisp More Synonyms of chilly

2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]

If you feel chilly, you feel rather cold.

I'm a bit chilly.

3. adjective

You say that relations between people are chilly or that a person's response is chilly when they are not friendly, welcoming, or enthusiastic.

I was slightly afraid of their chilly distant politeness.

Synonyms: unfriendly, hostile, unsympathetic, frigid More Synonyms of chilly

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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Word Frequency

chilly in British English

(ˈtʃɪlɪ )

adjectiveWord forms: -lier or -liest

1.

causing or feeling cool or moderately cold

2.

without warmth; unfriendly

3.

(of people) sensitive to cold

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Derived forms

chilliness (ˈchilliness)

noun

Word Frequency

chilly in American English

(ˈtʃɪli )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈchillier or ˈchilliest

1.

moderately cold; uncomfortably cool

2.

chilling; making cold

3.

cool in manner; unfriendly

4.

depressing; dispiriting

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Derived forms

chillily (ˈchillily)

adverb

chilliness (ˈchilliness)

noun

Word Frequency

chilly in American English

(ˈtʃɪli) (adjective chillier, chilliest)

adjective

1.

mildly cold or producing a sensation of cold; causing shivering; chill

a chilly breeze

2.

feeling cold; sensitive to cold

Her hands were chilly

3.

without warmth of feeling; cool

a chilly reply

4.

producing or likely to produce a feeling of fear; frightening

He told a chilly story of ghosts and murder

adverb

5. Also: chillily

in a chill manner

The wind blew chilly

Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Derived forms

chilliness

noun

Word origin

[1560–70; chill + -y1]

Examples of 'chilly' in a sentence
chilly

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

And it looks like remaining chilly for the rest of the week.The sun disappears behind a cloud and suddenly it feels chilly.It was a particularly chilly and damp day across the south.The week ahead also looks changeable and rather chilly.It certainly feels cosy on a chilly autumn afternoon.You may still get cold nights or chilly winds that can damage or slow it.It was very romantic if a bit chilly.It will still feel chilly in the northeast but relatively mild in the west and southwest.Our heightened sensitivity to cold makes a chilly draught invariably feel more uncomfortable than a warm breeze.It was overcast and a bit chilly.

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COBUILD Collocations
chilly

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In other languages
chilly

British English: chilly /ˈtʃɪlɪ/ ADJECTIVE

Chilly means uncomfortably cold.

It was a chilly afternoon.

American English: chilly /tˈʃɪli/
Arabic: بَارِد
Brazilian Portuguese: frio
Chinese: 寒冷的
Croatian: hladan
Czech: studený
Danish: kølig
Dutch: koel
European Spanish: frío
Finnish: viileä
French: froid
German: kühl
Greek: κρύος
Italian: fresco
Japanese: 寒い
Korean: 쌀쌀한
Norwegian: kjølig
Polish: chłodny
European Portuguese: frio
Romanian: friguros
Russian: холодный
Latin American Spanish: frío
Swedish: kylig
Thai: หนาวเย็น
Turkish: soğuk
Ukrainian: холодний
Vietnamese: lạnh lẽo

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Definition of chilly from the Collins English Dictionary

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Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

hours or ours?

Which version is correct?

There are few strangers in a town like hours. There are few strangers in a town like ours.

loot or lute?

Which version is correct?

There was a man playing a loot on the lawn. There was a man playing a lute on the lawn.

elicit or illicit?

Which version is correct?

The elicit trade was highlighted in an investigation last year. The illicit trade was highlighted in an investigation last year.

peak or peek?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

peak

peek

It happened at the of the morning rush hour.

flair or flare?

Which version is correct?

I have a friend who has a flair for languages. I have a friend who has a flare for languages.

Your score:

May 28, 2021

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Scrabble score
for 'chilly':
14

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

childlike or childish?

Which version is correct?

We were shocked by their selfish and childlike behaviour.We were shocked by their selfish and childish behaviour.

comprehensible or comprehensive?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

comprehensive

comprehensible

Linda received training after joining the firm.

alone or lonely?

Which version is correct?

I spend a lot of my time alone in my room.I spend a lot of my time lonely in my room.

anniversary or birthday?

Which version is correct?

They celebrated the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth.They celebrated the birthday of Shakespeare's birth.

arise or rise?

Which version is correct?

A serious problem has arisen.A serious problem has risen.

Your score:

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