Alternative forms

• stone-cold, stonecold

Etymology

The literal sense reflects the archetypeCategory:English links with manual fragments#STONE%20COLD of stone: it is usually cold to the touch and often quite cold. The figurative senses emphasize the high degree of coldness or of certainty.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#STONECOLD

Adjective

stone coldCategory:English lemmas#STONECOLDCategory:English adjectives#STONECOLDCategory:English multiword terms#STONECOLDCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#STONECOLDCategory:Pages with entries#STONE%20COLDCategory:Pages with 1 entry#STONE%20COLD (idiomaticCategory:English idioms#STONECOLD)

2. Very cold (literally); lacking any semblance of warmth.

   Hypernym: coldCategory:English links with manual fragments#STONE%20COLD

   Coordinate terms: chilly (not as bad), lukewarm

   Near-synonyms: ice-cold, cold as ice, icy, freezing cold, frigid, cold as a well-digger's arse; see also Thesaurus:cold

   I forgot to turn on the burner under the soup and found it sitting there, still stone cold, twenty minutes later.

   Category:English terms with usage examples#STONECOLD

4. (of persons or their behavior) Lacking emotion or compassion.

   Synonyms: stonyCategory:English links with manual fragments#STONE%20COLD, coldCategory:English links with manual fragments#STONE%20COLD

   a stone-cold demeanorCategory:English terms with collocations#STONECOLD

   a stone-cold killerCategory:English terms with collocations#STONECOLD

6. Certain; definite; obvious.

   Coordinate term: deadCategory:English links with manual fragments#STONE%20COLD

   a stone cold certaintyCategory:English terms with collocations#STONECOLD;   a stone cold guaranteeCategory:English terms with collocations#STONECOLD

   • 2006 November 6, Philip Thornton, “Interest rate rise a 'stone-cold certainty' despite industry plea”, in The Independent‎:

     "A hike on Thursday looks a stone cold certainty," Howard Archer, chief UK economist at Global Insight, said.

     Category:English terms with quotations#STONECOLD

Adverb

stone cold (not generally comparable, comparative more stone cold, superlative most stone cold)Category:English lemmas#STONECOLDCategory:English adverbs#STONECOLDCategory:English multiword terms#STONECOLDCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#STONECOLDCategory:Pages with entries#STONE%20COLDCategory:Pages with 1 entry#STONE%20COLD

2. Certainly; definitely; obviously.

   Synonym: dead (adverb)Category:English links with manual fragments#STONE%20COLD

   It is stone cold guaranteed that that guy will get his clock cleaned if he shows up here today.Category:English terms with collocations#STONECOLD

Anagrams

• condolets, condotels