Coldness is the quality of having a low temperature, or the absence of warmth. When you step outside on a winter morning and feel the coldness in the air, your body is sensing that the temperature is much lower than your normal 98.6 degrees. The coldness of ice cream makes it refreshing on a hot day, while the coldness of a frozen lake can make it safe to skate on.

But coldness also describes a person's unfriendly or emotionally distant behavior. When someone treats you with coldness, they're being deliberately unfriendly or aloof, like they've put up an invisible wall between you. You might notice coldness in their voice when they speak to you, or feel it in the way they barely acknowledge you in the hallway. This kind of coldness can hurt more than physical cold because it can feel like someone doesn't want to connect with you.

Sometimes people show coldness when they're angry or hurt, and sometimes it's just part of their personality. A teacher might treat a rule-breaker with coldness to show disappointment. Understanding the difference between temporary coldness (someone having a bad day) and more lasting coldness (someone who regularly acts this way) helps you respond to how others treat you.