Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Cool or cold enough to cause discomfort. synonym: cold.
  • adjective Feeling cold, often to the point of shivering.
  • adjective Unenthusiastic.
  • adjective Distant and cool; unfriendly.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun See chilli.
  • In a chill or chilly manner; coldly; with coldness.
  • Experiencing the sensation of chilliness; chilled.
  • Producing the sensation of cold; chilling; especially, so cold as to produce the sensation of shivering.
  • Cold; chill.
  • Wanting zeal, animation, or heartiness; indifferent; cold; frigid: as, a chilly reception.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Moderately cold; cold and raw or damp so as to cause shivering; causing or feeling a disagreeable sensation of cold, or a shivering.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Cold enough to cause shivering; or suddenly feeling cold
  • adjective Unfriendly or distant and cool

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun very hot and finely tapering pepper of special pungency
  • adjective not characterized by emotion
  • adjective lacking warmth of feeling
  • adjective appreciably or disagreeably cold

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

chill +‎ -y

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Examples

  • The temperature which, at this time of the year, is usually warm and genial, continued to be what they called chilly, though I found it agreeable enough, and the showy trees, called the _Pride of India_, which are planted all over the city, and are generally in bloom at this season, were still leafless.

    Letters of a Traveller Notes of Things Seen in Europe and America William Cullen Bryant 1836

  • What is the most striking features is obviously the fireplace on the outside, which seems to be keeping you cool as you hang out in chilly winter nights in the little patio area!

    Modern Home in Auckland By Belinda George Architects 2009

  • You both live in chilly places, Ann in Minneapolis and Liv in Norway.

    Ann Bancroft - An interview with author 2010

  • You both live in chilly places, Ann in Minneapolis and Liv in Norway.

    Ann Bancroft - An interview with author 2010

  • Jensen and myself, discussing this film and pornography at Augsburg College in chilly MN.

    So, I went to MN… « Bound, Not Gagged 2008

  • Jensen and myself, discussing this film and pornography at Augsburg College in chilly MN.

    2008 November « Bound, Not Gagged 2008

  • We don't really do sandwiches except grilled cheese, which won't work, so I don't know if she'll be cool with that or not, and a two-hour nature walk in chilly weather seems like not the day to test that.

    Archive 2008-10-01 kittenpie 2008

  • Jensen and myself, discussing this film and pornography at Augsburg College in chilly MN.

    2008 November 24 « Bound, Not Gagged 2008

  • We don't really do sandwiches except grilled cheese, which won't work, so I don't know if she'll be cool with that or not, and a two-hour nature walk in chilly weather seems like not the day to test that.

    Little Ladies Who (Need) Lunch kittenpie 2008

  • There is a linkage between blue eyes, blond hair and fair skin, which is supposedly of adaptive advantage in chilly northern latitudes; there also seems to be some kind of link with adult lactose tolerance.

    Blue Eyes nwhyte 2008

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