From Middle English chele, chile, from Old English ċiele, ċele (“cold; coldness”), from Proto-West Germanic *kali, from Proto-Germanic *kaliz, from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to be cold”). Closely related with Dutch kil. Also akin to cool, cold, gel, and congeal, which see.
Meanings
Moderately cold or chilly.
A chill wind was blowing down the street.
Noisome winds, and blasting vapours chill. 1634, John Milton, “Arcades”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
Unwelcoming; not cordial.
Arriving late at the wedding, we were met with a chill reception.
(slang) Calm, relaxed, easygoing.
Paint-your-own ceramics studios are a chill way to express yourself while learning more about your date's right brain.
“I might put it on if someone’s asking me a question I don’t want to answer. It’s like playing the character of an obnoxious, but chill, girl.” 2023 May 15, Alaina Demopoulos, “Why are so many young Americans adopting fake British accents?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
The teacher is really chill and doesn't care if you use your phone during class.
(slang) "Cool"; meeting a certain hip standard or garnering the approval of a certain peer group.
he קְרִירָה (moderately cold or chilly) · pt fresco (moderately cold or chilly) · bg студен (moderately cold or chilly) · mk ла́ден (moderately cold or chilly) · crh suvuq (moderately cold or chilly) · ru прохла́дный (moderately cold or chilly) · de kühlen (moderately cold or chilly) · ro răcoros (moderately cold or chilly) · de kühler (moderately cold or chilly) · bg хладен (moderately cold or chilly) · he קָרִיר (moderately cold or chilly) · fi viileä (moderately cold or chilly) · es vivalavirgen (calm, relaxed, easygoing) · pt frio (moderately cold or chilly) · mk сту́ден (moderately cold or chilly) · es frío (moderately cold or chilly)
From Middle English chele, chile, from Old English ċiele, ċele (“cold; coldness”), from Proto-West Germanic *kali, from Proto-Germanic *kaliz, from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to be cold”). Closely related with Dutch kil. Also akin to cool, cold, gel, and congeal, which see.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A moderate, but uncomfortable and penetrating coldness.
A breezy winter chill is likely for MLK Weekend across the Southeast. […] A steady northwest breeze will keep wind chills in the teens and single digits for the remainder of your weekend. 2021 January 16, Derek Van Dam, “Northeast will be wet and chilly while Southern California should sizzle during holiday weekend”, in CNN:
There was a chill in the air.
Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal. 2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
(countable, uncountable) A sudden penetrating sense of cold, especially one that causes a brief trembling nerve response through the body; the trembling response itself; often associated with illness: fevers and chills, or susceptibility to illness.
I felt a chill when the wind picked up.
Close the window or you'll catch a chill.
(countable, uncountable) An uncomfortable and numbing sense of fear, dread, anxiety, or alarm, often one that is sudden and usually accompanied by a trembling nerve response resembling the body's response to biting cold.
His menacing presence cast a chill over everyone.
The actor's eerie portrayal sent chills through the audience.
Despite the heat, he felt a chill as he entered the crime scene.
(countable, uncountable) An iron mould or portion of a mould, serving to cool rapidly, and so to harden, the surface of molten iron brought in contact with it.
(countable, uncountable) The hardened part of a casting, such as the tread of a carriage wheel.
(countable, uncountable) A lack of warmth and cordiality; unfriendliness.
His eyes are cold, and the chill between us twists in the pit of my stomach. 2014, Tammara Webber, Between the Lines, →ISBN:
However, the chill between the two giants did not last long; every constituency except the Westernizers found virtue in warming up to China. 1998, Ilya Prizel, National Identity and Foreign Policy, →ISBN:
(countable, uncountable) Calmness; equanimity.
A heated, in-door pool flanked by sumptuous daybeds where dark-slated walls, fiber-optic mood lighting, underwater sound system, and soothing waterfall deliver serious chill. 2017 October 19, Stephanie Orma, “Why This Chic Milan Hotel Is the Ultimate Design Lover's Escape”, in Forbes:
From the very start of the interview, Lawrence's manic energy proved that she had absolutely no chill. 2017 November 3, Libby Hill, “Jennifer Lawrence gets weird in delightful interview with Kim Kardahian West”, in Los Angeles Times:
Granted, Tyrese put himself out there by even posting the video, knowing the internet has no chill. 2017 November 5, Tanay Hudson, “Tyrese’s Meltdown Is Not A Laughing Matter”, in Madame Noire:
For those of us who relate to that furious paddling in some form (whether we choose to conceal it below the surface or not), we are probably also aware of what, besides the water, we are really clashing against: a culture of chill. 2017 October 12, Rebecca Okin, “Okin ’19: Chill culture isn’t cool”, in The Brown Daily Herald:
(countable, uncountable) A sense of style; trendiness; savoir faire.
Will and Grace still have no chill; having a pillow fight in the Oval Office proves that. 2017 November 1, Araceli Aviles, “Will & Grace Series (Re)Premiere Review: Same Characters, Different World”, in TV Overmind:
“Las Vegas has glitz, but Palm Springs has chill,” Stone said. 2017 October 26, Brian Blueskye, “The Palm Springs City Council Candidate Interview: Robert Julian Stone”, in Coachella Valley Independent:
Angelina left Brad, which upsets me because I'm human," said Corden, adding that Netflix had chill, but the FBI had "zero chill." 2016 December 16, “James Corden Recaps 2016 With Comedy, Then Makes Somber Plea for Aleppo's Children”, in Hollywood Reporter:
(countable, uncountable) A chilling effect; an atmosphere of this.
It was a courageous move by these activists, still living in the chill of the Cold War, to face red-baiting for holding protests that turned Washington's charges against the Cuban Revolution back on the U.S. government. 2006 April 1, Leslie Feinberg, “Mid-1960s gay activists tarrget U.S. gov't”, in Workers World:
tl talaknaw (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · sv kyla (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · fi väristys (sudden numbing fear or dread) · fi väristys (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · mi haukōeoeo (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · fr frisson (sudden numbing fear or dread) · wa frumjhon (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · eo malvarmeto (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · ja 寒気 (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · mk мраз (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · sv kyla (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · ru моро́з (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · it brivido (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · it frescura (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · de Frost (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · bg хлад (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · mk студ (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · bg студ (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · it freddo (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · fr fraicheur (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · ru мороз (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · fi viileys (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · wa frumjhon (sudden numbing fear or dread) · hi कँपकँपी (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · he קְרִירוּת (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · it brivido di freddo (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · de Kälteschauer (sudden numbing fear or dread) · tl talagnaw (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · de Kühle (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · de Schauer (sudden numbing fear or dread) · ru дрожь (sudden numbing fear or dread) · fi puistatus (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · he צִנָּה (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · hi ठिठुरन (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · it freddezza (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · enm chele (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · ru хо́лод (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · ru моро́з (sudden numbing fear or dread) · sv kalluft (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · mk студ (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · ru озно́б (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · cmn 寒氣 /寒气 (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · ru прохла́да (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · pt gelo (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · fr froid (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · it raffreddamento (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · nv hakʼaz (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · enm chele (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · wa rafroedixhmint (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · fi kylmät väreet (sudden numbing fear or dread) · de Kälte (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · nrf saisissement (sudden numbing fear or dread) · es fresco (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · bg мраз (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · he צִנָּה (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · it fresco (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · wa froedeur (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · wa froed (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · wa friskete (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · it gelo (moderate, but uncomfortable coldness) · la algor (sudden penetrating sense of cold) · wa rafroedixhmint (sudden penetrating sense of cold)
chill en · VERB · etymology 2
Etymology
From Middle English chillen, from Old English ċilian (“to be cold”), from Proto-West Germanic *kilēn (“to be cold”). Cognate with Middle Dutch killen (“to be cold”), Dutch killen (“to be cold, shiver”).
Meanings
(transitive) To lower the temperature of something; to cool.
Chill before serving.
(intransitive) To become cold.
In the wind he chilled quickly.
(transitive) To harden a metal surface by sudden cooling.
(intransitive) To become hard by rapid cooling.
(intransitive, slang) To relax; to lie back; to take things easy.
The new gym teacher really has to chill or he's gonna blow a gasket.
Chill, man, we've got a whole week to do it; no sense in getting worked up.
A time to live and a time to die / A time to break and a time to chill / To act civilized or act real ill 1979, “Rapper's Delight”, performed by Sugarhill Gang:
(intransitive, slang) To "hang", hang out; to spend time with another person or group.
Hey, we should chill this weekend.
He likes to chill with his friends on Saturdays.
(intransitive, slang) To smoke marijuana.
On Friday night do you wanna chill?
(figuratively, transitive) To discourage, depress.
es pasar el tiempo (slang: to hang out) · fr prendre du bon temps (to relax, lie back) · fi karkaistua (to become hard by rapid cooling) · fi viilentää (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · bg закалявам се (to become hard by rapid cooling) · fr chiller (to relax, lie back) · de abkühlen (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · uk чілити (to relax, lie back) · fi hillitä (to discourage or depress) · fr se détendre (to relax, lie back) · gd fuaraich (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · es chilear (to relax, lie back) · de abkühlen (to become cold) · mk о́лади (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · es enfriar (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · pl schładzać (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · de abschalten (to relax, lie back) · sv kyla (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · fi tukahduttaa (to discourage or depress) · nn kopla av (to relax, lie back) · fr se relaxer (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · de abschrecken (to become hard by rapid cooling) · pl schłodzić (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · fi kylmettyä (to become cold) · it raffreddarsi (to become cold) · fi ottaa rennosti (to relax, lie back) · pt esfriar (to relax, lie back) · pl ostudzić (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · de abkühlen (to harden a metal surface by sudden cooling) · it raffreddare (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · fi kylmentyä (to become cold) · fi karkaista (to harden a metal surface by sudden cooling) · es salir (slang: to hang out) · ga é a thógáil go bog (to relax, lie back) · fi jäähtyä (to become cold) · it rilassarsi (to relax, lie back) · fi jäähdyttää (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · bg закалявам (to harden a metal surface by sudden cooling) · de relaxen (to relax, lie back) · mi whakamātao (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · no chille (to relax, lie back) · es enfriarse (to become cold) · no kjølne (to become cold) · eo malvarmigi (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · da chille (to relax, lie back) · de abschrecken (to harden a metal surface by sudden cooling) · bg охлаждам (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · bg обезкуражавам (to discourage or depress) · is tsjilla (to relax, lie back) · pt resfriar (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · nrf fraidgi (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · fr se reposer (to relax, lie back) · pl oziębiać (to become cold) · pl oziębić (to become cold) · fi chillata (slang: to hang out) · cmn 使变冷 (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · pt esfriar (to become cold) · it calmarsi (to relax, lie back) · fi relata (to relax, lie back) · gd fuaraich (to become cold) · pl ostudzać (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · de chillen (to relax, lie back) · grc ψύχω (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · nl chillen (to relax, lie back) · de abkühlen (to become hard by rapid cooling) · no avkjøle (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · es relajarse (to relax, lie back) · mk и́злади (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · bg охладнявам (to become cold) · sv kallna (to become cold) · sv chilla (to relax, lie back) · fr se relaxer (to relax, lie back) · fa چاییدن (to become cold) · pt esfriar (to lower the temperature of something; to cool) · eo malvarmiĝi (to become cold)
chill en · X · etymology 3
Etymology
From Middle English ichille, equivalent to ch- + will, from ich + will.
Meanings
(West-Country, contraction, obsolete) I will
Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 4, scene 6, line 226; republished as The Tragedy of King Lear, Cambridge University Press, 2005, →ISBN, page 232:
Yet since their eyes make hart so sore, hey ho, chill love no more. 1588, anon. or William Byrd, Though Amaryllis Daunce in Greene:
(Cornwall, obsolete) A kind of lamp that burns fish oil.
There is a last antiquity, and perhaps not least interesting, in "the Chill" or fish oil lamp, peculiar to Cornwall and a remote age, which now I lay before you. These lamps are rarely, very rarely seen, never in use, and passing from the memories of all but the very aged. 1877, The Journal of the British Archaeological Association, page 193: