Coldest Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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coldest
[ˈkoʊldɪst ]
Definition
extreme temperature
Coldest is the superlative form of cold, describing the lowest temperature in a given context. It can refer to weather conditions, physical sensations, or metaphorical uses such as emotional states.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- Today is the coldest day of the year.
- He experienced the coldest winter in his life last year.
- The coldest temperature recorded in this area was last February.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Science
- Absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature, occurs at -273.15°C (-459.67°F), where molecular motion stops.
- Cold environments can slow down biological processes, affecting everything from metabolism in animals to the growth of plants.
- Certain materials, like superconductors, only demonstrate unique properties at very low temperatures, illustrating how science explores extremes.
Geography
- Antarctica holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth at -128.6°F (-89.2°C) at Vostok Station in 1983.
- Some regions, like Siberia, experience extremely cold winters, leading to unique adaptations in wildlife and human cultures.
- Mountain ranges can reach frigid temperatures at their peaks, influencing the types of ecosystems that can thrive there.
Literature
- Writers often use cold landscapes to symbolize isolation or emotional distance in novels and poems.
- Classic literature sometimes depicts coldness as a character's personality trait, reflecting inner turmoil or detachment.
- Famous stories, like 'A Christmas Carol', use the cold of winter as a backdrop to highlight warmth in human connections.
Pop Culture
- Movies often feature icy terrains as settings for adventure or survival, like in 'Frozen' where the cold is central to the storyline.
- In music, songs about coldness can evoke feelings of heartbreak, using 'cold' as a metaphor for emotional distance.
- Video games frequently utilize cold environments for challenges, adding layers of strategy as players navigate frigid conditions.
Origin of 'coldest'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'cold' comes from the Old English 'cald', meaning chilly or cool.
- Adding '-est' to 'cold' forms a superlative, which is used to describe the extreme level of something.
- In various languages, similar roots exist, showing how humans have described extreme climate conditions across cultures.
The word 'coldest' stems from the Middle English word 'cold', which originated from the Old English 'cald', meaning cool or chilly. This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic '*kalda', which also related to the concept of coldness as a state of low temperature. Over the centuries, the word evolved to encompass various forms such as 'cold', 'coldly', and 'coldness', with 'coldest' being introduced as the superlative form to indicate the highest degree of coldness in comparison to others. The usage of 'coldest' has found its place in everyday language, often used in weather forecasts, descriptions of climate, and expressions of sensation, reflecting the profound impact of temperature on human experience.