cold snap noun

A sudden short spell of cold weather

cold sore noun

A blister or group of blisters on or near the mouth, caused by a viral infection (herpes simplex)

cold start noun

1. The reloading of a computer program (computing)
2. The starting of an engine at the ambient temperature

cold steel noun

Cutting or stabbing weapons, as opposed to bullets

cold storage noun

1. Storage and preservation of goods in refrigerating chambers
2. Abeyance

cold table noun

A selection of cold meat and other food eaten in a formal setting

cold turkey noun

1. Sudden withdrawal of narcotics
2. The symptoms experienced by a drug user on such withdrawal (also figurative)
3. The plain unvarnished truth

cold war noun

An intense, remorseless struggle for the upper hand by all means short of actual fighting, orig and esp as between the Communist and non-Communist powers after World War II

cold water noun

Water at its natural temperature in ordinary conditions

cold wave noun

1. An artificial wave produced by a chemical solution (hairdressing)
2. A sudden spell of cold weather over a large area

coldˈ-weld transitive verb

To force together (two like or unlike metals) so that normal oxide surface films are ruptured and adhesion occurs

cold welding noun

coldˈ-without noun

Brandy with cold water and no sugar

coldˈ-work transitive verb

To shape (metals) at or near atmospheric temperature by rolling, pressing, etc (cold work noun)

catch cold

1. To contract a cold
2. To make an unexpected loss

cold as charity

A proverbial phrase expressing ironically great coldness or indifference

cold dark matter

In cosmology, a material thought to be detectable in the microwave background of the universe whose existence may disprove the big-bang theory

come in from the cold

To gain acceptance or recognition after a period of isolation or neglect

give or show the cold shoulder

1. To show studied indifference
2. To give a rebuff

go cold (on)

1. To lose enthusiasm for or interest in
2. To peter out or disappear
3. To fail to respond to

in a cold sweat

(as if) sweating with fear

in cold blood

With deliberate intent, not under the influence of passion

in the cold light of day see under day

leave one cold

To fail to impress

leave out in the cold

To neglect, ignore

out cold

Unconscious

pour or throw cold water on

To discourage

turn down cold

To refuse absolutely and immediately, allowing no discussion

snap /snap/

intransitive verb (snappˈing; snapped)

1. To make a bite (often with at)
2. To speak tartly in sudden irritation
3. To grasp (with at)
4. To shut suddenly, eg by a spring
5. To make a sharp noise
6. To go with a sharp noise
7. To break suddenly
8. To lose one's temper or self-control (informal)

transitive verb

1. To bite suddenly
2. To seize, secure promptly (usu with up)
3. To answer or interrupt sharply (often with up)
4. To shut with a sharp sound
5. To cause to make a sharp sound
6. To send or put with a sharp sound
7. To say snappishly (sometimes with out)
8. To break suddenly
9. To pass (the ball) from the line of scrimmage back to the quarterback (American football)
10. To take a quick photograph of, esp with a hand-held camera

noun

1. An act, instance, or noise of snapping
2. A small catch or lock
3. An earring (rare)
4. (in pl) a kind of handcuffs
5. A share
6. A scrap
7. A whit
8. A snack
9. A crack
10. A crisp, ginger biscuit (also gingersnap)
11. A quick, crisp, incisive, epigrammatic quality in style
12. Lively energy
13. A brief theatrical engagement (slang)
14. An easy and profitable place or task
15. A sharper, a cheat (old slang)
16. A riveter's or glass-moulder's tool
17. A snapshot
18. A sudden cold spell (also cold snap)
19. A type of card game in which the first player to shout ‘snap’ on spotting a matching pair of cards wins all the cards on the table
20. The play that involves snapping the ball (American football)

adjective

1. Sudden, unexpected
2. Offhand
3. (of a decision or judgement) made on the spur of the moment without deep consideration of all possibilities
4. Snapping shut

adverb

With a snap

interjection

1. Used in claiming cards in the game of snap
2. Also, on meeting or discovering two matching items, circumstances, etc

snappˈer noun

1. An animal that snaps
2. Someone who snaps or snaps up
3. An attachment at the end of a whiplash to make it crack
4. A snapping-turtle
5. Any fish of the family Lutjanidae, related to the basses
6. (also schnapper) any of several highly esteemed food-fish of the family Sparidae, found in Australian and New Zealand waters
7. A photographer (slang)
8. A Christmas or party cracker (N American)

snappˈily adverb

snappˈing noun and adjective

snappˈingly adverb

snappˈish adjective

1. Inclined to snap
2. Quick and tart

snappˈishly adverb

snappˈishness noun

snappˈy adjective

1. Snappish
2. Snapping
3. Having the quality of snap
4. Instantaneous
5. Lively
6. Smart, fashionable, polished (as in snappy dresser)

snap bean noun (N American)

A variety of bean with edible pods

snapˈ-brim adjective

(of a hat) having a brim that turns down springily

snapˈdragon noun

1. A plant (genus Antirrhinum) of the figwort family whose flower when pinched and released snaps like a dragon
2. Another name for flap-dragon (see under flap)

snapˈ-fastener noun

A press-fastener, a press-stud

snapˈ-link noun

A link with a side opening closed by a spring

snappˈing-turtle noun

A large aggressive American freshwater turtle

snap roll noun

An aerobatic manoeuvre in which an aircraft turns in a longitudinal circle while maintaining its flight direction

snapˈshooter noun

snapˈshooting noun

snapˈshot noun

1. A hasty shot
2. A photograph taken quickly and informally, with simple equipment
3. An instant record of an event, situation, etc at a particular time, esp a stage in a process or sequence (figurative; also adjective)
4. A record of the placement of stored data at a specific stage in a program run (computing)

look snappy, make it snappy (informal)

To hurry

Scotch snap see under Scotch

snap into it

To get going quickly

snap one's fingers

To flick a finger and thumb together with a sharp noise, usu to attract attention or peremptorily demand service

snap out of it (informal)

To give (eg a mood or habit) up at once

snap someone's head or nose off

To answer irritably and rudely

snap up

To take or purchase eagerly and quickly