Cooler vs. Cool — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
Cooler is a noun referring to a device or container that keeps things cold, while Cool can be an adjective describing a moderate or low temperature or a sense of being fashionable, or a verb meaning to reduce temperature.
Difference Between Cooler and Cool
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cooler and Cool, while derived from the same root, serve different grammatical and functional purposes in the English language. Cooler, primarily utilized as a noun, specifically refers to a device or container designed to keep items cold, such as beverages. For example, people might take a Cooler filled with drinks to the beach to ensure they remain chilled.
Cool, on the other hand, showcases versatility in its application. As an adjective, Cool can describe something moderately cold, like a Cool breeze. But it's not just limited to temperature; Cool is often used colloquially to denote something trendy or stylish. A new tech gadget might be termed "Cool" due to its innovative features.
Furthermore, Cool as a verb takes on the meaning of reducing in temperature. For instance, after baking a cake, one might let it Cool on the counter. This action-based usage sets it apart from the static nature of Cooler, which remains a tangible item or object.
Additionally, both words can branch out into idiomatic expressions or slang. While "keeping one's Cool" refers to maintaining composure, "Cooler heads" points to calmer, more rational individuals. Though both terms are rooted in temperature, their broader applications in language showcase the richness of English vocabulary.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective, Verb, and sometimes a Noun
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Primary Definition
A device or container to keep things cold
Moderate or low temperature or being fashionable
Secondary Meanings
None
To reduce in temperature, calmness, approval
Examples
A Cooler for drinks
A Cool day, that's Cool (approval), let the soup Cool
Idiomatic Usage
Less frequent
Common, e.g., "keep your Cool" or "Cool as a cucumber"
Compare with Definitions
Cooler
A container designed to keep items cold.
We packed our drinks in the Cooler for the picnic.
Cool
Fashionably attractive or impressive.
That new skateboard design is really Cool.
Cooler
A period in jail (slang).
He spent a night in the Cooler after the bar fight.
Cool
Marked by calm self-control.
He remained Cool under pressure.
Cooler
An individual or thing that diminishes enthusiasm or excitement.
The unexpected rain was a Cooler for the outdoor event.
Cool
Approval or acceptance (slang).
Everything is Cool between us now.
Cooler
A device that dissipates heat.
The computer's Cooler ensures it doesn't overheat.
Cool
Neither warm nor very cold; moderately cold
Fresh, cool water.
A cool autumn evening.
Cooler
A cooler, portable ice chest, ice box, cool box, chilly bin (in New Zealand), or esky (Australia) is an insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. Ice cubes are most commonly placed in it to help the contents inside stay cool.
Cool
Giving or suggesting relief from heat
A cool breeze.
A cool blouse.
Cooler
A container for keeping food or bottles cool.
Cool
Marked by calm self-control
A cool negotiator.
Cooler
A long drink, especially a mixture of wine, fruit juice, and soda water.
Cool
Marked by indifference, disdain, or dislike; unfriendly or unresponsive
A cool greeting.
Was cool to the idea of higher taxes.
Cooler
Prison or a prison cell
The cooler was a dark, claustrophobic room
Cool
Of, relating to, or characteristic of colors, such as blue and green, that produce the impression of coolness.
Cooler
A device, container, or room that cools or keeps cool.
Cool
Knowledgeable or aware of the latest trends or developments
Spent all his time trying to be cool.
Cooler
A cold drink, usually carbonated, fruit-flavored, and containing wine or other alcoholic ingredients. Also called wine cooler.
Cool
Excellent; first-rate
Has a cool sports car.
Had a cool time at the party.
Cooler
(Slang) A jail.
Cool
Acceptable; satisfactory
It's cool if you don't want to talk about it.
Cooler
Anything which cools.
Cool
(Slang) Entire; full
Worth a cool million.
Cooler
An insulated bin or box used with ice or freezer packs to keep food or beverages cold while picnicking or camping.
Cool
(Informal) In a casual manner; nonchalantly
Play it cool.
Cooler
A device for refrigerating dead bodies in a morgue.
Cool
To make less warm.
Cooler
A type of drink made with alcohol, especially wine, mixed with fruit juice.
They served wine coolers in the afternoon.
Cool
To make less ardent, intense, or zealous
Problems that soon cooled my enthusiasm for the project.
Cooler
Samalamig
Cool
(Physics) To reduce the molecular or kinetic energy of (an object).
Cooler
A prison.
Cool
To become less warm
Took a dip to cool off.
Cooler
A bouncer or doorman.
Cool
To become calmer
Needed time for tempers to cool.
Cooler
A cold deck.
Cool
A cool place, part, or time
The cool of early morning.
Cooler
That which cools, or abates heat or excitement.
If acid things were used only as coolers, they would not be so proper in this case.
Cool
The state or quality of being cool.
Cooler
Anything in or by which liquids or other things are cooled, as an ice chest, a vessel for ice water, etc.
Cool
Composure; poise
"Our release marked a victory. The nation had kept its cool" (Moorhead Kennedy).
Cooler
An alcoholic beverage containing liquor or wine plus a carbonated beverage, usually served with ice.
Cool
Having a slightly low temperature; mildly or pleasantly cold.
Cooler
Jail; - usually used in the form the cooler.
Cool
Allowing or suggesting heat relief.
Linen has made cool and breathable clothing for millennia.
Cooler
An air conditioner.
Cool
Of a color, in the range of violet to green.
If you have a reddish complexion, you should mainly wear cool colors.
Cooler
A refrigerator for cooling liquids
Cool
Of a person, not showing emotion; calm and in control of oneself.
Cooler
An iced drink especially white wine and fruit juice
Cool
Unenthusiastic, lukewarm, skeptical.
His proposals had a cool reception.
Cooler
A cell for violent prisoners
Cool
Calmly audacious.
In control as always, he came up with a cool plan.
Cooler
A refrigerated room.
The butcher stores meat in a Cooler.
Cool
Applied facetiously to a sum of money, commonly as if to give emphasis to the largeness of the amount.
Cool
(informal) Of a person, knowing what to do and how to behave; considered popular by others.
Cool
(informal) In fashion and fancy, part of or befitting the most leading trends and habits of the in crowd; originally hipster slang.
Cool
(informal) Of an action, all right; acceptable; that does not present a problem.
Is it cool if I sleep here tonight?
Cool
(informal) Very interesting or exciting.
I think astronomy is really cool.
Cool
(informal) (followed by with) Able to tolerate; to be fine with.
I'm completely cool with my girlfriend leaving me.
Cool
(informal) (of a pair of people) holding no grudge against one another; having no beef.
We're cool, right?
Cool
(sarcastic) (of an act or situation)'' annoying, irritating.
Cool
A moderate or refreshing state of cold; moderate temperature of the air between hot and cold; coolness.
In the cool of the morning
Cool
A calm temperament.
Cool
The property of being cool, popular or in fashion.
Cool
To lose heat, to get colder.
I like to let my tea cool before drinking it so I don't burn my tongue.
Cool
To make cooler, less warm.
Cool
To become less intense, e.g. less amicable or passionate.
Relations cooled between the USA and the USSR after 1980.
Cool
To make less intense, e.g. less amicable or passionate.
Cool
(transitive) To kill.
Cool
Moderately cold; between warm and cold; lacking in warmth; producing or promoting coolness.
Fanned with cool winds.
Cool
Not ardent, warm, fond, or passionate; not hasty; deliberate; exercising self-control; self-possessed; dispassionate; indifferent; as, a cool lover; a cool debater.
For a patriot, too cool.
Cool
Not retaining heat; light; as, a cool dress.
Cool
Manifesting coldness or dislike; chilling; apathetic; as, a cool manner.
Cool
Quietly impudent; negligent of propriety in matters of minor importance, either ignorantly or willfully; presuming and selfish; audacious; as, cool behavior.
Its cool stare of familiarity was intolerable.
Cool
Applied facetiously, in a vague sense, to a sum of money, commonly as if to give emphasis to the largeness of the amount.
He had lost a cool hundred.
Leaving a cool thousand to Mr. Matthew Pocket.
Cool
A moderate state of cold; coolness; - said of the temperature of the air between hot and cold; as, the cool of the day; the cool of the morning or evening.
Cool
To make cool or cold; to reduce the temperature of; as, ice cools water.
Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue.
Cool
To moderate the heat or excitement of; to allay, as passion of any kind; to calm; to moderate.
We have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts.
Cool
To become less hot; to lose heat.
I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus,the whilst his iron did on the anvil cool.
Cool
To lose the heat of excitement or passion; to become more moderate.
I will not give myself liberty to think, lest I should cool.
Cool
The quality of being cool;
The cool of early morning
Cool
Great coolness and composure under strain;
Keep your cool
Cool
Make cool or cooler;
Chill the food
Cool
Loose heat;
The air cooled considerably after the thunderstorm
Cool
Lose intensity;
His enthusiasm cooled considerably
Cool
Neither warm or very cold; giving relief from heat;
A cool autumn day
A cool room
Cool summer dresses
Cool drinks
A cool breeze
Cool
Marked by calm self-control (especially in trying circumstances); unemotional;
Play it cool
Keep cool
Stayed coolheaded in the crisis
The most nerveless winner in the history of the tournament
Cool
(color) inducing the impression of coolness; used especially of greens and blues and violets;
Cool greens and blues and violets
Cool
Psychologically cool and unenthusiastic; unfriendly or unresponsive or showing dislike;
Relations were cool and polite
A cool reception
Cool to the idea of higher taxes
Cool
Used of a number or sum and meaning without exaggeration or qualification;
A cool million bucks
Cool
Fashionable and attractive at the time; often skilled or socially adept;
He's a cool dude
That's cool
Mary's dress is really cool
It's not cool to arrive at a party too early
Cool
Of a moderate or low temperature.
The weather is Cool today.
Cool
To become less warm.
Allow the tea to Cool before drinking.
Common Curiosities
Can Cool be a noun?
Yes, while less common, Cool can be a noun, as in "the Cool of the evening."
Can Cool be used to describe someone's demeanor?
Yes, describing someone as Cool can mean they're calm and composed.
Is calling someone Cool about their fashion sense or their temperament?
It can be either; context will determine if it's about style or demeanor.
Can Cooler mean something that diminishes excitement?
Yes, an event or factor that dampens enthusiasm can be called a Cooler.
Can both Cooler and Cool be used in idiomatic expressions?
Yes, such as "Cooler heads will prevail" and "keep your Cool."
Are there any slang meanings for Cooler?
Yes, Cooler can slangily refer to a short period in jail.
Is a Cooler always portable?
No, while many Coolers are portable, large refrigerated rooms can also be called Coolers.
How do I use Cool as a verb?
Cool as a verb means to make or become less warm, like "Cool the pie before serving."
Is Cooler only used to refer to containers for drinks?
No, Cooler can refer to any device or container designed to keep things cold or even a refrigerated room.
Can Cool indicate approval?
Yes, saying "that's Cool" can mean you approve or accept something.
Do all Coolers use ice?
No, while many portable Coolers use ice, some use electronic cooling systems.
Is the phrase "Cool as a cucumber" about temperature?
Not necessarily; it often describes someone's calm and composed demeanor.
Is it correct to say "the weather is Cooler today"?
Yes, in this case, Cooler is a comparative form of Cool, meaning the weather is less warm than before.
Can you "lose your Cool"?
Yes, it's an idiom meaning to become angry or agitated.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
