The process of becoming or making something less warm or hot. Can also refer to calming down emotionally or reducing intensity.
From Old English 'colian' meaning to become cold, related to 'ceald' meaning cold. The metaphorical use for emotions developed from the physical temperature concept.
Cooling is one of the few processes that works the same way in physics and psychology - both involve slowing down molecular or mental activity. The phrase 'cooling off period' in law recognizes that heated emotions, like heated objects, need time to return to a stable state.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.