a biting cold — extremely cold weather that feels sharp and painful on the skin
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: extremely cold weather that feels sharp and painful on the skin
Pronunciation (IPA): /ə ˈbaɪtɪŋ koʊld/
Example Sentences
- The delivery driver cursed as he stepped into a biting cold that froze his coffee within minutes.
- Students huddled together in the school yard, complaining about a biting cold that made their phones shut down.
- Even the penguins seemed uncomfortable in a biting cold that broke temperature records.
a biting cold
NOUN[/ə ˈbaɪtɪŋ koʊld/]
extremely cold weather that feels sharp and painful on the skin
A biting cold swept across the frozen lake as the skater gasped.
Fighting the biting cold while lighting the fire!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase 'a biting cold' derives from the Old English verb 'bitan' (to bite). The adjective 'biting' developed the figurative meaning of 'sharp' or 'severe' through sensory metaphor, comparing the sensation of intense cold to the physical act of biting or tearing at the skin.
Breakdown
bite (Old English 'bitan', to bite or tear) + -ing (present participle suffix, forming adjectives meaning 'having the quality of') + cold (noun, referring to low temperature). The construction uses the participle form to create a vivid sensory descriptor.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The delivery driver cursed as he stepped into a biting cold that froze his coffee within minutes.”
“Students huddled together in the school yard, complaining about a biting cold that made their phones shut down.”
“Even the penguins seemed uncomfortable in a biting cold that broke temperature records.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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