Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Causing fear, dread, or a sudden cold feeling: Describes something that provokes terror, horror, or an emotional coldness, often by being sinister or threatening.

2. Noun:

   • The act or process of making something cold; a drop in temperature: Refers to the physical process of cooling down.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:

  • The detective uncovered chilling evidence at the crime scene.
  • She told a chilling story about her encounter with the stranger.

• Noun:

  • The rapid chilling of the metal made it more brittle.
  • We observed the chilling of the liquid as it approached freezing point.

Advanced Usage

• "A chilling effect": An idiom describing an action or law that discourages or suppresses a legitimate activity (like free speech) through fear of penalties.

  • The new regulations had a chilling effect on investigative journalism.

• "Chilling reminder": A phrase used to describe something that serves as a frightening or sobering memory of a past event.

  • The abandoned building stood as a chilling reminder of the war.

Variants and Related Words

• Chill (verb/noun/adjective): To make cold; a cold feeling; relaxed.
• Chilled (adjective): Made cold; also can mean relaxed in informal contexts.
• Chiller (noun): A machine for cooling; a frightening story or film.
• Chilly (adjective): Moderately cold; unfriendly in manner.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Frightening, terrifying, horrifying, scary, blood-curdling, eerie, sinister.
• Noun: Cooling, refrigeration, freezing.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Comforting, reassuring, heartwarming.
• Noun: Heating, warming.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Send chills down someone's spine: To cause someone to feel sudden fear or horror.

  • The ghost story sent chills down my spine.

• Chill to the bone/marrow: To make someone feel extremely cold or deeply frightened.

  • The icy wind chilled us to the bone.

Adjective

1. provoking fear terror
   • a scary movie
   • the most terrible and shuddery...tales of murder and revenge

Noun

1. the process of becoming cooler; a falling temperature