definition of the word warm

• (RP) IPA: /wɔːm/
• (US) IPA: /wɔːrm/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

From Old English wearm from Proto-Germanic *warmaz, with different proposed etymologies

1. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer- (warm, hot), related to Ancient Greek θερμός (thermos), Latin formus, Sanskrit घर्म (gharma).

2. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (to burn), related to Hittite (warnuzi).

The dispute is due to differing opinions on how initial PIE *gʷʰ- evolved in Germanic, some think that *gʷʰ would have turned to *b, and that the root *gʷʰer- would instead have given rise to burn etc. There also has been etymologies proposing a merger of the two roots.

warm (comparative warmer, superlative warmest)

1. Having a temperature slightly higher than usual, but still pleasant; a mild temperature.

   The tea is still warm.

2. Being something that causes warmth, or the impression thereof.

   This is a very warm room.

3. Caring or charming, of relations to another person.

   We have a warm friendship.

   • 1985: Robert Ferro, Blue Star

     It seemed I was too excited for sleep, too warm, too young.

4. Having a color in the red-orange-yellow part of the visible electromagnetic spectrum.
5. Close, often used in the context of a game in which "warm" and "cold" are used to indicate nearness to the goal.
6. (archaic) Ardent, zealous.
   • 1776: Edward Gibbon, The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Chapter 1

     To 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.

see WikiSaurus:warm

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

• warmly adv
• warm up / warm-up

Definition from Wiktionary Content avaible with GNU Free Documentation License

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