a cold spell

cold spell — • cold spell • cold snap a sudden short period of cold weather (usually in winter) The cold snap lasted for five days …   Idioms and examples

cold spell — cold ,spell noun count a period of cold weather …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

cold spell — n a period of several days or weeks when the weather is much colder than usual …   Dictionary of contemporary English

cold spell — noun a spell of cold weather • Syn: ↑cold snap • Hypernyms: ↑while, ↑piece, ↑spell, ↑patch * * * cold spell UK US noun [countable] [ …   Useful english dictionary

cold spell — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms cold spell : singular cold spell plural cold spells a period of cold weather …   English dictionary

cold spell — period of cold weather …   English contemporary dictionary

cold spell — noun (C) a period of several days or weeks when the weather is much colder than usual …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

spell — spell1 [spel] n. [ME < OE, a saying, tale, charm, akin to Goth spill, tale < ? IE base * (s)pel , to speak loudly] 1. a word, formula, or form of words thought to have some magic power; incantation 2. seemingly magical power or irresistible …   English World dictionary

cold snap — • cold spell • cold snap a sudden short period of cold weather (usually in winter) The cold snap lasted for five days …   Idioms and examples

cold snap — cold′ snap n. mer a sudden, relatively brief period of cold weather. Also called cold′ spell • Etymology: 1770–80, amer …   From formal English to slang

cold snap — noun a spell of cold weather • Syn: ↑cold spell • Hypernyms: ↑while, ↑piece, ↑spell, ↑patch * * * a sudden onset of a relatively brief period of cold weather. Also called cold spell. [1770 80, Amer.] …   Useful english dictionary