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gelido

icy cold

adjective JEH-lee-doh Rare

Origin: Latin gelidus, from gelu (frost)

Also means

freezing

Usage Note

Gelido is stronger than freddo (cold) — it conveys an intense, penetrating cold, close to freezing. It applies to weather, water, rooms, and figuratively to a person's manner: uno sguardo gelido (an icy stare). Do not confuse with ghiacciato (iced, frozen solid), which implies a physical state of ice.

Examples

"Un vento gelido soffiava dalla montagna."

Natural Translation

An icy wind was blowing from the mountain.

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