tʃɪl n.,
v., & adj. --n. 1 a an
unpleasant cold sensation; lowered
body temperature. b a
feverish cold (catch a chill). 2 unpleasant coldness (of
air,
water, etc.). 3 a a depressing
influence (cast a chill over). b a
feeling of
fear or
dread accompanied by coldness. 4 coldness of
manner. --v. 1 tr. & intr.
make or
become cold. 2 tr.
depress,
dispirit. 3 tr.
cool (food or drink);
preserve by cooling. 4 tr.
harden (molten metal) by
contact with cold
material. --adj.
literary chilly. øtake
the chill
off warm slightly. øøchiller n. chillingly adv. chillness n. chillsome adj. literary. [OE cele, ciele,
etc.: in
mod.
use the
verb is the oldest (ME),
and is of
obscure orig.]