Definition of 'chilly'

Learner: chilly English: chilly American: chilly Example sentences Word partners

chilly

(tʃɪli   )
Word forms: chillier, chilliest
1. adjective
Something that is chilly is unpleasantly cold.
It was a chilly afternoon.  
Synonyms: cool, fresh, sharp, crisp   More Synonyms of chilly
2. adjective [v-link ADJ]
If you feel chilly, you feel rather cold.
I'm a bit chilly.  
More Synonyms of chilly
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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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

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]

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

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.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The sun disappears behind a cloud and suddenly it feels chilly.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was a particularly chilly and damp day across the south.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The week ahead also looks changeable and rather chilly.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It certainly feels cosy on a chilly autumn afternoon.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You may still get cold nights or chilly winds that can damage or slow it.
The Sun (2008)
It was very romantic if a bit chilly.
The Sun (2016)
It will still feel chilly in the northeast but relatively mild in the west and southwest.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Our heightened sensitivity to cold makes a chilly draught invariably feel more uncomfortable than a warm breeze.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It was overcast and a bit chilly.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It will feel decidedly chilly with strong winds and downpours.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It can get a bit chilly when you pick up speed.
The Sun (2013)
Your deeper insight into life helps understand why a relationship is loving one day and chilly the next.
The Sun (2014)
You should look around for a chic jacket to have to hand in case the day turns chilly.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It's sometimes more bewildering than bewitching but the landscape and haunting soundtrack forge a chilly atmosphere.
The Sun (2014)
 Bonfire Night looks chilly and clear for many.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Being annoyed too at her insistence that they walk outside on a rather chilly morning, he hunched his shoulders and looked glum.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
This month has begun as November ended: largely dry and slightly chilly.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is a Danish detective series with a terrific northern, chilly atmosphere.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It was packed in Nottingham city centre on a chilly Sunday afternoon.
The Sun (2013)
This week is looking particularly chilly, although the first half of October was very mild.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A cold, chilly day in a compact and noisy ground and it is going to be stinking for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Sounds great, although we make that 1.5 people who are going to have a rather chilly end to their night.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The trendy interior is quite chilly looking and a little forbidding, but the stylists are the absolute opposite - warm and relaxed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The atmosphere turned chilly and I'm now excluded from all future reunions.
The Sun (2010)

Related word partners
chilly
 

chilly day
chilly evening
chilly morning
chilly water
chilly wind

In other languages

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  
  • Spanish: frío  
  • Swedish: kylig  
  • Thai: หนาวเย็น  
  • Turkish: soğuk  
  • Ukrainian: холодний
  • Vietnamese: lạnh lẽo  

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Related terms of
chilly

Source

Definition of chilly from the Collins English Dictionary
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Scrabble score
for 'chilly':
14
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