1 gelid | Definition of gelid
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gelid

adjective
gel·​id | \ ˈje-lÉ™d How to pronounce gelid (audio) \

Definition of gelid

: extremely cold : icy gelid water a man of gelid reserve — New Yorker
Other Words from gelid Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about gelid

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Other Words from gelid

gelidity \ jÉ™-​ˈli-​dÉ™-​tÄ“ How to pronounce gelidity (audio) , je-​ \ noun
gelidly \ ˈje-​lÉ™d-​lÄ“ How to pronounce gelidly (audio) \ adverb

Did You Know?

Gelid first appeared in English late in the 16th century, coming to our language from Latin gelidus, which ultimately derives from the noun gelu, meaning "frost" or "cold." (Our noun gelatin, which can refer to an edible jelly that undergoes a cooling process as part of its formation, comes from a related Latin word: gelare, meaning "to freeze.") Gelid is used in English to describe anything of extremely cold temperature (as in "the gelid waters of the Arctic Ocean"), but the word can also be used figuratively to describe a person with a cold demeanor (as in "the criminal's gelid stare").

Examples of gelid in a Sentence

the Titanic passengers could not long survive the gelid waters of the North Atlantic the judge listened with the gelid detachment of someone who had heard it all before

Recent Examples on the Web

 But other ailments that are either directly or tangentially related to the gelid weather have multiplied. — John Benson, cleveland.com, "Lakewood City Council makes good with schools regarding tax financing agreement," 4 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gelid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of gelid

1599, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for gelid

Latin gelidus, from gelu frost, cold — more at cold

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gelid

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