Cold vs. Hot — What's the Difference?

Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception.

Having or giving off heat; capable of burning.

Having a low temperature

Being at a high temperature.

Being at a temperature that is less than what is required or what is normal

Being at or exhibiting a temperature that is higher than normal or desirable

Chilled by refrigeration or ice

Causing a burning sensation, as in the mouth; spicy

Feeling no warmth; uncomfortably chilled

Charged or energized with electricity

Appearing to be dead; unconscious

Radioactive or designed to use radioactive materials.

Dead

Marked by intensity of emotion; ardent or fiery

Lacking emotion; objective

Having or displaying great enthusiasm; eager

Having little appeal to the senses or feelings

(Informal) Arousing intense interest, excitement, or controversy

Designating or being in a tone or color, such as pale gray, that suggests little warmth.

(Informal) Marked by excited activity or energy

Not affectionate or friendly; aloof

Violent; raging

Exhibiting or feeling no enthusiasm

Sexually attractive.

Devoid of sexual desire; frigid.

Sexually attracted; full of desire

Having lost all freshness or vividness through passage of time

Sexually aroused.

So intense as to be almost uncontrollable

Recently stolen

Characterized by repeated failure, especially in a sport or competitive activity

Wanted by the police

To an unqualified degree; totally

Close to a successful solution or conclusion

With complete finality

Most recent; new or fresh

Without advance preparation or introduction

Currently very popular or successful

Relative lack of warmth

Requiring immediate action or attention

The sensation resulting from lack of warmth; chill.

(Slang) Very good or impressive. Often used in the negative

A condition of low air temperature; cold weather

(Slang) Funny or absurd

A viral infection characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the upper respiratory passages and usually accompanied by malaise, fever, chills, coughing, and sneezing. Also called common cold, coryza.

Performing with great skill and daring

(of a thing) Having a low temperature.

Having or characterized by repeated successes

(of the weather) Causing the air to be cold.

Fast and responsive

(of a person or animal) Feeling the sensation of coldness, especially to the point of discomfort.

Unusually lucky

Unfriendly; emotionally distant or unfeeling.

(Music) Of, relating to, or being an emotionally charged style of performance marked by strong rhythms and improvisation

Dispassionate; not prejudiced or partisan; impartial.

Bold and bright.

Completely unprepared; without introduction.

In a hot manner; hotly.

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

While hot

(usually with "have" or "know" transitively) Perfectly, exactly, completely; by heart; down pat.

(Informal) To cause to increase in intensity or excitement. Often used with up

(usually with "have" transitively) Cornered; done for.

Relating to heat and conditions which produce it.

(obsolete) Not pungent or acrid.

(of an object) Having or giving off a high temperature.

(obsolete) Unexciting; dull; uninteresting.

(of a person or animal) Feeling the sensation of heat, especially to the point of discomfort.

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

Feverish.

(obsolete) Not sensitive; not acute.

Active, in use or ready for use (like a bullet or a firing range), turned on (like a microphone or camera).

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

Electrically charged.

(painting) Having a bluish effect; not warm in colour.

(informal) Radioactive.

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

(figurative) Relating to excited emotions.

(informal) Without compassion; heartless; ruthless.

(of a temper) Easily provoked to anger.

(informal) Not radioactive.

Very physically and/or sexually attractive.

(firearm) Not loaded with a round of live ammunition.

(slang) Sexual or sexy; involving sexual intercourse or sexual excitement.

Without electrical power being supplied.

(slang) Sexually aroused; randy.

A condition of low temperature.

Extremely attracted to.

A harsh place; a place of abandonment.

Relating to popularity, quality, or the state of being interesting.

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

(informal) Very good, remarkable, exciting.

(slang) rheum, sleepy dust

Popular; in demand.

At a low temperature.

Of great current interest; provoking current debate or controversy.

Without preparation.

Performing strongly; having repeated successes.

In a cold, frank, or realistically honest manner.

Fresh; just released.

Deprived of heat, or having a low temperature; not warm or hot; gelid; frigid.

Relating to danger or risk.

Lacking the sensation of warmth; suffering from the absence of heat; chilly; shivering; as, to be cold.

Uncomfortable, difficult to deal with; awkward, dangerous, unpleasant.

Not pungent or acrid.

(slang) Characterized by police presence or activity.

Wanting in ardor, intensity, warmth, zeal, or passion; spiritless; unconcerned; reserved.

Stolen.

Unwelcome; disagreeable; unsatisfactory.

Not covered by funds on account.

Wanting in power to excite; dull; uninteresting.

Very close to finding or guessing something to be found or guessed.

Affecting the sense of smell (as of hunting dogs) but feebly; having lost its odor; as, a cold scent.

(of food) Spicy, pungent, piquant, as some chilis and other spices are.

Not sensitive; not acute.

(of an electric musical instrument) Loud, producing a strong electric signal for the amplifier.

Distant; - said, in the game of hunting for some object, of a seeker remote from the thing concealed.

(slang) Used to emphasize the short duration or small quantity of something

Having a bluish effect. Cf. Warm, 8.

Extremely fast or with great speed.

The relative absence of heat or warmth.

Hotly, at a high temperature.

The sensation produced by the escape of heat; chilliness or chillness.

Rapidly, quickly.

A morbid state of the animal system produced by exposure to cold or dampness; a catarrh.

(especially in the phrase "come in hot", "go in hot") While shooting, while firing one's weapon(s).

To become cold.

To heat; to make or become hot.

A mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs);

To become lively or exciting.

The absence of heat;

Having much sensible heat; exciting the feeling of warmth in a great degree; very warm; - opposed to cold, and exceeding warm in degree; as, a hot stove; hot water or air.

The sensation produced by low temperatures;

Characterized by heat, ardor, or animation; easily excited; firely; vehement; passionate; violent; eager.

Used of physical coldness; having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration;

Lustful; lewd; lecherous.

Extended meanings; especially of psychological coldness; without human warmth or emotion;

Acrid; biting; pungent; as, hot as mustard.

Having lost freshness through passage of time;

Used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning;

(color) giving no sensation of warmth;

Characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense;

Marked by errorless familiarity;

Extended meanings; especially of psychological heat; marked by intensity or vehemence especially of passion or enthusiasm;

No longer new; uninteresting;

(color) bold and intense;

So intense as to be almost uncontrollable;

Sexually excited or exciting;

Sexually unresponsive;

Recently stolen or smuggled;

Without compunction or human feeling;

Very fast;

Feeling or showing no enthusiasm;

Wanted by the police;

Unconscious from a blow or shock or intoxication;

Performed or performing with unusually great skill and daring and energy;

Of a seeker; far from the object sought

Having a piquant burning taste of spices or peppers;

Lacking the warmth of life;

Very popular or successful;

Very unpleasant or even dangerous;

Newest or most recent;

Having or bringing unusually good luck;

Very good; often used in the negative;

Newly made;

Capable of quick response and great speed;

Having or showing great eagerness or enthusiasm;

Of a seeker; near to the object sought;

Having or dealing with dangerously high levels of radioactivity;

Charged or energized with electricity;

Marked by excited activity;