The difference between Cold and Icy

When used as adjectives, cold means having a low temperature, whereas icy means pertaining to, resembling, or abounding in ice.


Cold is also noun with the meaning: a condition of low temperature.

Cold is also adverb with the meaning: while at low temperature.

check bellow for the other definitions of Cold and Icy

  1. Cold as an adjective (of a thing):

    Having a low temperature.

    Examples:

    "A cold wind whistled through the trees."

  2. Cold as an adjective (of the weather):

    Causing the air to be cold.

    Examples:

    "The forecast is that it will be very cold today."

  3. Cold as an adjective (of a person or animal):

    Feeling the sensation of coldness, especially to the point of discomfort.

    Examples:

    "She was so cold she was shivering."

  4. Cold as an adjective:

    Unfriendly, emotionally distant or unfeeling.

    Examples:

    "She shot me a cold glance before turning her back."

  5. Cold as an adjective:

    Dispassionate, not prejudiced or partisan, impartial.

    Examples:

    "Let's look at this tomorrow with a cold head."

    "He's a nice guy, but the cold facts say we should fire him."

    "The cold truth is that states rarely undertake military action unless their national interests are at stake."

  6. Cold as an adjective:

    Completely unprepared; without introduction.

    Examples:

    "He was assigned cold calls for the first three months."

  7. Cold as an adjective:

    Unconscious or deeply asleep; deprived of the metaphorical heat associated with life or consciousness.

    Examples:

    "I knocked him out cold."

    "After one more beer he passed out cold."

  8. Cold as an adjective (usually with "have" or "know" transitively):

    Perfectly, exactly, completely; by heart.

    Examples:

    "Practice your music scales until you know them cold."

    "Try both these maneuvers until you have them cold and can do them in the dark without thinking."

    "Rehearse your lines until you have them down cold."

    "Keep that list in front of you, or memorize it cold."

  9. Cold as an adjective (usually with "have" transitively):

    Cornered, done for.

    Examples:

    "With that receipt, we have them cold for fraud."

    "Criminal interrogation. Initially they will dream up explanations faster than you could ever do so, but when they become fatigued, often they will acknowledge that you have them cold."

  10. Cold as an adjective (obsolete):

    Not pungent or acrid.

  11. Cold as an adjective (obsolete):

    Unexciting; dull; uninteresting.

  12. Cold as an adjective:

    Affecting the sense of smell (as of hunting dogs) only feebly; having lost its odour.

    Examples:

    "a cold scent"

  13. Cold as an adjective (obsolete):

    Not sensitive; not acute.

  14. Cold as an adjective:

    Distant; said, in the game of hunting for some object, of a seeker remote from the thing concealed. Compare warm and hot.

    Examples:

    "You're cold … getting warmer … hot! You've found it!"

  15. Cold as an adjective (painting):

    Having a bluish effect; not warm in colour.

  16. Cold as an adjective (databases):

    Rarely used or accessed, and thus able to be relegated to slower storage.

  17. Cold as an adjective (informal):

    Without compassion; heartless; ruthless

    Examples:

    "I can't believe she said that...that was cold!"

  1. Cold as a noun:

    A condition of low temperature.

    Examples:

    "Come in, out of the cold."

  2. Cold as a noun (medicine):

    A common, usually harmless, viral illness, usually with congestion of the nasal passages and sometimes fever.

    Examples:

    "I caught a miserable cold and had to stay home for a week."

  1. Cold as an adverb:

    While at low temperature.

    Examples:

    "The steel was processed cold."

  2. Cold as an adverb:

    Without preparation.

    Examples:

    "The speaker went in cold and floundered for a topic."

  3. Cold as an adverb:

    With finality.

    Examples:

    "I knocked him out cold."

  4. Cold as an adverb (slang, informal, dated):

    In a cold, frank, or realistically honest manner.

  1. Icy as an adjective:

    Pertaining to, resembling, or abounding in ice; cold; frosty.

  2. Icy as an adjective:

    Covered with ice, wholly or partially.

  3. Icy as an adjective:

    Characterized by coldness of manner; frigid; cold.

  4. Icy as an adjective (US, slang):

    To be wearing an excessive amount of jewelry, especially of the high-quality and expensive kind.