Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense chills, present participle chilling, past tense, past participle chilled
1. verb
When you chill something or when it chills, you lower its temperature so that it becomes colder but does not freeze.
Chill the fruit salad until serving time. [VERB noun]
These doughs can be rolled out while you wait for the pastry to chill. [VERB]
...a glass of chilled champagne. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: cool, refrigerate, freeze More Synonyms of chill
2. verb
When cold weather or something cold chills a person or a place, it makes that person or that place feel very cold.
The marble floor was beginning to chill me. [VERB noun]
An exposed garden may be chilled by cold winds. [beVERB-ed]
Wade placed his chilled hands on the radiator. [VERB-ed]
The boulder sheltered them from the chilling wind. [VERB-ing]
3. verb
If you say that something you see, hear, or feel chills you, you mean that it frightens you.
[written]
There was a coldness in her that chilled him. [VERB noun]
Some films chill you to the marrow of your bones. [VERB noun to noun]
Synonyms: dishearten, depress, discourage, dismay More Synonyms of chill
4. countable noun
If something sends a chill through you, it gives you a sudden feeling of fear or anxiety.
The violence used against the students sent a chill through Indonesia.
He smiled, an odd, dreamy smile that sent chills up my back.
Synonyms: shiver, frisson, goose pimples, goose flesh More Synonyms of chill
5. countable noun
A chill is a mild illness which can give you a slight fever and headache.
He caught a chill while performing at a rain-soaked open-air venue.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Chill weather is cold and unpleasant.
...chill winds, rain and choppy seas.
Chill is also a noun.
September is here, bringing with it a chill in the mornings.
...the cold chill of the night. [+ of]
Phrasal verbs:
See chill out
More Synonyms of chill
chill in British English
(tʃɪl)
noun
1.
a moderate coldness
2.
a sensation of coldness resulting from a cold or damp environment, or from a sudden emotional reaction
3.
a feverish cold
4.
a check on enthusiasm or joy
5. metallurgy
a metal plate placed in a sand mould to accelerate cooling and control local grain growth
6. another name for bloom1 (sense 9)
adjective
7. another word for chilly
verb
8.
to make or become cold
9. (transitive)
to cool or freeze (food, drinks, etc)
10. (transitive)
a.
to depress (enthusiasm, etc)
b.
to discourage
11. (transitive)
to cool (a casting or metal object) rapidly in order to prevent the formation of large grains in the metal
12. (intransitive) slang, mainly US
to relax; calm oneself
Derived forms
chilling (ˈchilling)
adjective
chillingly (ˈchillingly)
adverb
chillness (ˈchillness)
noun
Word origin
Old English ciele; related to calan to cool, Latin gelidus icy
chill in American English
(tʃɪl)
noun
1.
a feeling of coldness that makes one shiver; uncomfortable coolness
2.
a moderate coldness
3.
a damper on enthusiasm; discouraging influence
4.
a feeling of sudden fear, apprehension, etc.
5.
coolness of manner; unfriendliness
6. Metallurgy
a cooled iron mold placed in contact with that part of a casting which is to be cooled rapidly and thus hardened on the surface
adjective
7.
chilly
verb intransitive
8.
to become cool or cold
9.
to be seized with a chill; shake or shiver, as with cold or fear
10. US, Slang
a.
to rest or relax
b.
to calm down
usually used in the imperative
; usually with out
11. Metallurgy
to become hardened on the surface by rapid cooling
verb transitive
12.
to make cool or cold
13.
to cause a chill in
14.
to check (enthusiasm, etc.)
15.
to depress; dispirit
16. Metallurgy
to harden (metal) on the surface by rapid cooling
Derived forms
chillingly (ˈchillingly)
adverb
chillness (ˈchillness)
noun
Word origin
ME chile < OE ciele, coldness < Gmc *kal-, to be cold < IE base *gel-, cold > L gel- in gelidus, icy
Examples of 'chill' in a sentence
chill
Serve it well chilled to knock back the sweetness further.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But it sends a chill up my spine.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Strain into chilled glasses and serve each with a slice of apple.
The Sun (2016)
Strain, chill and freeze or use as necessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There's an unmistakable chill in the air.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I can still feel the icy chill of panic that hit me.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
With a decent dollop of time, you could take in ten more islands and still have time to chill.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you think you're feeling a chill as the nights draw in, it could be worse.
The Sun (2016)
It is no answer to the chilling effect of section 40 on a free and untamed press to say that they only need join a recognised regulator.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is particularly chilling looking back on it because her brother is a former soldier.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Serve on top of the steak or chill or freeze until needed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Wrap in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for a couple of hours or until firm.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Put the chilled pastry case on a baking tray.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This soup can also be chilled and served cold.
Bennett, Carol Asthma and Eczema - special diet cookbook (1989)
Yet suddenly he felt a chill of fear.
The Sun (2006)
You know that damp chill and musty blanket smell you normally experience on entering a holiday let?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That verse always sends chills up my spine.
Christianity Today (2000)
The champagne was always chilled and ready to open.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The company makes environmentally friendly boxes for transporting chilled foods.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Some say that the scandal will still have a chilling effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You can feel the crisp chill of a glass of white.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Set the clarified butter aside to cool and chill until ready to use.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There was indeed a chill in the air.
Eaton, John P & Haas, Charles A Titanic - Destination disaster (1987)
He says something that chills my heart.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Allow to cool at room temperature or chill in the fridge until it can be spread or piped.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Symptoms include chills, headache and breathing difficulties.
The Sun (2010)
There was a slight chill in the dip, which may have accounted for it.
Diana Wynne Jones CHARMED LIFE (1977)
You'll only catch a chill from the rotten weather.
The Sun (2009)
In the quiet chill of the night, the sounds of grief came from all directions.
Philip Marsden The Barefoot Emperor: An Ethiopian Tragedy (2007)
A sudden gust of chill wind from the west obliged them to reconsider.
Veronica Buckley CHRISTINA QUEEN OF SWEDEN: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric (2004)
Britain may also feel the chill from Canada, but the effects are likely to be limited.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I feel chilled by her.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
chill
British English: chill /tʃɪl/ VERB
To chill something means to make it cold.
Chill the fruit salad until serving time.
These doughs can be rolled out while you wait for the pastry to chill.
American English: chill
Arabic: يُبَرِّدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: esfriar
Chinese: 变冷
Croatian: ohladiti
Czech: vychladit
Danish: afkøle
Dutch: afkoelen
European Spanish: enfriar
Finnish: jäähdyttää
French: refroidir
German: kühlen
Greek: ψύχω
Italian: raffreddare
Japanese: 冷やす
Korean: 식히다
Norwegian: avkjøle
Polish: oziębić
European Portuguese: esfriar
Romanian: a răci
Russian: охлаждать
Latin American Spanish: enfriar
Swedish: kyla ner
Thai: ทำให้เย็น
Turkish: soğutmak
Ukrainian: охолоджувати
Vietnamese: làm lạnh
British English: chill ADJECTIVE
Chill weather is cold and unpleasant.
...chill winds, rain, and choppy seas.
American English: chill
Brazilian Portuguese: frio
Chinese: 寒冷的
European Spanish: frío
French: froid
German: kühl
Italian: gelido
Japanese: 肌寒い
Korean: 쌀쌀한
European Portuguese: frio
Latin American Spanish: frío
British English: chill NOUN
If something sends a chill through you, it gives you a sudden feeling of fear or anxiety.
The violence used against the students sent a chill through the country.
American English: chill
Brazilian Portuguese: arrepio
Chinese: 害怕的感觉
European Spanish: escalofrío
French: froid
German: Kühle
Italian: gelo
Japanese: 悪寒
Korean: 냉기
European Portuguese: arrepio
Latin American Spanish: escalofrío
All related terms of 'chill'
chill out
To chill out means to relax after you have done something tiring or stressful.
chill pill
an imaginary medicinal pill with a calming , relaxing effect
cook-chill
a method of food preparation used by caterers , in which cooked dishes are chilled rapidly and reheated as required
wind-chill
the serious chilling effect of wind and low temperature: it is measured on a scale that runs from hot to fatal to life and allows for varying combinations of air temperature and wind speed
chill cabinet
a cupboard or chest in a shop where chilled foods and drinks are displayed and kept cool
chill factor
→ windchill factor
cook-chill foods
foods which are chilled rapidly and reheated as required
wind-chill factor
the serious chilling effect of wind and low temperature : it is measured on a scale that runs from hot to fatal to life and allows for varying combinations of air temperature and wind speed
windchill factor
an estimated measurement of the cooling effect of air and wind, esp. when applied to the loss of body heat from exposed skin; chill factor
Chinese translation of 'chill'
chill
(tʃɪl)
n(c)
(in air, water) 寒气(氣) (hánqì)
(= illness) 着(著)凉(涼) (zháoliáng)
adj
[wind, air]凉(涼)飕(颼)飕(颼)的 (liángsōusōu de)
vt
(= cool)[food, drinks]使冷冻(凍) (shǐ lěngdòng)
(liter, = frighten) 使 ... 害怕 (shǐ ... hàipà)
to catch a chill着(著)凉(涼) (zháoliáng)
it sent a chill down my spine这(這)使我胆(膽)战(戰)心惊(驚) (zhè shǐ wǒ dǎn zhàn xīn jīng)
I'm chilled to the bone or marrow我感到寒气(氣)刺骨 (wǒ gǎndào hánqì cìgǔ)
"serve chilled""冰镇(鎮)食用" ("bīngzhèn shíyòng")
1 (verb)
Definition
to make (something) cool or cold
Chill the fruit salad until serving time.
Synonyms
cool
Huge fans are used to cool the factory.
refrigerate
Refrigerate the dough overnight.
freeze
You can freeze the soup at this point.
2 (verb)
There was a coldness in her voice which chilled him.
Synonyms
dishearten
These conditions dishearten people and undermine their hope.
depress
The state of the country depresses me.
discourage
Don't let this setback discourage you.
dismay
He was dismayed to learn that he wasn't a very nice person.
dampen
deject
1 (noun)
Definition
a moderate coldness
September is here, bringing with it a chill in the mornings.
Synonyms
coldness
bite
There was a bite in the air, a smell perhaps of snow.
nip
sharpness
coolness
He felt the coolness of the tiled floor.
rawness
crispness
frigidity
2 (noun)
Definition
a feeling of coldness resulting from a cold or damp environment or from sudden fear
He smiled an odd smile that sent a chill through me.
Synonyms
shiver
Alice gave a shiver of delight.
frisson
goose pimples
goose flesh
3 (noun)
Definition
a feverish cold
He caught a nasty chill.
Synonyms
cold
She must have come inside to get out of the cold.
1 (adjective)
Definition
unpleasantly cold
A chill wind was blowing.
Synonyms
chilly
It was a chilly afternoon.
biting
a raw, biting northerly wind
sharp
The wind was not as sharp and cruel as it had been.
freezing
a freezing January afternoon
raw
a raw December morning
bleak
The weather can be quite bleak on the coast.
wintry
Melissa gave him a wintry smile and walked on without a word.
frigid
The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged.
parky (British, informal)
2 (adjective)
Synonyms
unfriendly
She spoke in a loud, rather unfriendly voice.
cool
People found her too cool, aloof and arrogant.
depressing
distant
He's direct and courteous, but distant.
hostile
The Governor faced hostile crowds when visiting the town.
aloof
He seemed aloof and detached.
stony
The stony look he was giving her made it hard to think.
frigid
unresponsive
unwelcoming
ungenial
phrasal verb
See chill out
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aloof
Definition
distant or haughty in manner
He seemed aloof and detached.
Synonyms
distant,
cold,
reserved,
cool,
formal,
remote,
forbidding,
detached,
indifferent,
chilly,
unfriendly,
unsympathetic,
uninterested,
haughty,
unresponsive,
supercilious,
unapproachable,
unsociable,
standoffish
in the sense of bite
Definition
a stinging or smarting sensation
There was a bite in the air, a smell perhaps of snow.