cold-blooded

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   deliberately cruel and showing no pity, emotion, or remorse

   Investigators described the planned attack as cold-blooded and ruthless.

2. 2
   adj

   having a body temperature that varies with the environment rather than being regulated internally; ectothermic

   Most reptiles are cold-blooded and depend on external heat to warm their bodies.

Formed from cold blood + -ed. The biological sense contrasts animals whose body temperature depends largely on external conditions with warm-blooded animals; the figurative sense applies the traditional association of cold blood with emotional detachment and cruelty.

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