Word: Cold-blooded
Part of Speech: Adjective
Basic Meaning: The term "cold-blooded" has two main meanings.
Usage Instructions: - Use "cold-blooded" to describe animals when talking about their physical characteristics. - Use it to describe people or actions when you want to emphasize a lack of emotion or compassion.
Examples: 1. Scientific: "The lizard is a cold-blooded creature, so it needs to warm itself in the sun." 2. Emotional: "The cold-blooded killer showed no remorse for his actions."
Advanced Usage: - In literature or film, "cold-blooded" can be used to create a strong character impression, often depicting villains or antagonists.
Word Variants: - Cold-bloodedness: (noun) The state or quality of being cold-blooded, either in terms of temperature regulation or emotional detachment.
Different Meanings: - As mentioned, the term can refer to both a biological concept and a psychological/behavioral trait.
Synonyms: - For the scientific meaning: Ectothermic (a more technical term for cold-blooded). - For the emotional meaning: Ruthless, heartless, unfeeling, callous.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - While "cold-blooded" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to it, you might encounter phrases like "to kill in cold blood," which means to kill someone deliberately and without any emotion.
Summary: "Cold-blooded" can describe certain animals that rely on their environment for temperature regulation or refer to a person's lack of emotions or compassion, often used in serious contexts.