Warm

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔːm
• RP IPA: /wɔːm/
• US IPA: /wɔɹm/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)m

From Middle English warm, werm, from Old English wearm, from Proto-Germanic *warmaz, with different proposed origins:

1. Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer- (warm, hot), related to Ancient Greek θερμός, Latin formus, Sanskrit घर्म.
2. Proto-Indo-European *wer- (to burn), related to Hittite (warnuzi) and to Old Church Slavonic варити.

The dispute is due to differing opinions on how initial Proto-Indo-European *

gÊ·Ê°-

evolved in Germanic: some think that *

gÊ·Ê°

would have turned to *

b

, and that the root *

gÊ·Ê°er-

would instead have given rise to burn etc. Some have also proposed a merger of the two roots.

The term is cognate with West Frisian waarm, Dutch/German/Low German warm, Danish/Norwegian/Swedish varm and Icelandic varmur.

Full definition of warm

Adjective

1. Having a temperature slightly higher than usual, but still pleasant; mildly hot.The tea is still warm.This is a very warm room.
• LongfellowWarm and still is the summer night.
• 1985, Robert Ferro, Blue StarIt seemed I was too excited for sleep, too warm, too young.
2. Caring and friendly, of relations to another person.We have a warm friendship.
3. Having a color in the red-orange-yellow part of the visible electromagnetic spectrum.
4. Close, often used in the context of a game in which "warm" and "cold" are used to indicate nearness to the goal.
• BlackHere, indeed, young Mr. Dowse was getting "warm", as children say at blindman's buff.
5. (archaic) Ardent, zealous.a warm debate, with strong words exchanged
• MiltonMirth, and youth, and warm desire!
• Alexander PopeEach warm wish springs mutual from the heart.
• AddisonThey say he's a warm man and does not care to be made mouths at.
• HawthorneI had been none of the warmest of partisans.
• 1776, Edward Gibbon, The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Chapter 1To the strength and fierceness of barbarians they added a contempt for life, which was derived from a warm persuasion of the immortality and transmigration of the soul.
6. (archaic) Being well off as to property, or in good circumstances; rich.
• Washington Irvingwarm householders, every one of them
• GoldsmithYou shall have a draft upon him, payable at sight: and let me tell you he as warm a man as any within five miles round him.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• (mild temperature) arctic, cold, cool, frozen
• (caring) arctic, cold, cool, frozen

Derived terms

• cold hands, warm heart
• lukewarm
• warmhearted/warm-hearted
• warmish
• warmly
• warm up
  warm-up

From Old English werman

Verb

1. (transitive) To make or keep warm.
• Bible, Isaiah xliv. 15Then shall it ash tree be for a man to burn; for he will take thereof and warm himself.
• Longfellowenough to warm, but not enough to burn
2. (intransitive) To become warm, to heat up.
   My socks are warming by the fire.
   The earth soon warms on a clear summer day.
3. (intransitive) To favour increasingly.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 5, Mr. Campion appeared suitably impressed and she warmed to him. He was very easy to talk to with those long clown lines in his pale face, a natural goon, born rather too early she suspected.
4. He is warming to the idea.
   Her classmates are gradually warming to her.
5. To become ardent or animated.The speaker warms as he proceeds.
6. To make engaged or earnest; to interest; to engage; to excite ardor or zeal; to enliven.
• Alexander PopeI formerly warmed my head with reading controversial writings.
• KebleBright hopes, that erst bosom warmed.

Derived terms

• like death warmed over

Noun

1. (colloquial) The act of warming, or the state of being warmed; a heating.Shall I give your coffee a warm in the microwave?