| English Dictionary |
CALM
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does calm mean?
• CALM (noun)
The noun CALM has 2 senses:
1. steadiness of mind under stress
2. wind moving at less than 1 knot; 0 on the Beaufort scale
Familiarity information: CALM used as a noun is rare.
• CALM (adjective)
The adjective CALM has 2 senses:
1. not agitated; without losing self-possession
2. (of weather) free from storm or wind
Familiarity information: CALM used as an adjective is rare.
• CALM (verb)
The verb CALM has 4 senses:
1. make calm or still
2. make steady
3. become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation
4. cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to
Familiarity information: CALM used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Steadiness of mind under stress
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
calm; calmness; composure; equanimity
Context example:
he accepted their problems with composure and she with equanimity
Hypernyms ("calm" is a kind of...):
disposition; temperament (your usual mood)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "calm"):
aplomb; assuredness; cool; poise; sang-froid (great coolness and composure under strain)
placidity; quiet; repose; serenity; tranquility; tranquillity (a disposition free from stress or emotion)
Derivation:
calm (cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to)
calm (become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation)
calm (not agitated; without losing self-possession)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Wind moving at less than 1 knot; 0 on the Beaufort scale
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural phenomena
Synonyms:
calm; calm air
Hypernyms ("calm" is a kind of...):
air current; current of air; wind (air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure)
Holonyms ("calm" is a part of...):
Beaufort scale; wind scale (an international scale of wind force from 0 (calm air) to 12 (hurricane))
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: calmest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Not agitated; without losing self-possession
Synonyms:
calm; serene; tranquil; unagitated
Context example:
tranquil life in the country
Similar:
composed (serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress)
Derivation:
calm; calmness (steadiness of mind under stress)
calmness (a feeling of calm; an absence of agitation or excitement)
Sense 2
Meaning:
(of weather) free from storm or wind
Context example:
calm seas
Similar:
placid; quiet; smooth; still; tranquil; unruffled ((of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves)
settled (not changeable)
windless (without or almost without wind)
Also:
peaceable; peaceful (not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war)
Antonym:
stormy ((especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion)
Derivation:
calmness (an absence of strong winds or rain)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it calms Past simple: calmed
Past participle: calmed
-ing form: calming
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make calm or still
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize
Context example:
quiet the dragons of worry and fear
Hypernyms (to "calm" is one way to...):
comfort; console; solace; soothe (give moral or emotional strength to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "calm"):
lull (calm by deception)
compose (calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet)
appease; assuage; conciliate; gentle; gruntle; lenify; mollify; pacify; placate (cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of)
assure; reassure (cause to feel sure; give reassurance to)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The performance is likely to calm Sue
Antonym:
agitate (cause to be agitated, excited, or roused)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Make steady
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
Context example:
steady yourself
Hypernyms (to "calm" is one way to...):
stabilise; stabilize (become stable or more stable)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
calm; calm down; chill out; cool it; cool off; settle down; simmer down
Context example:
It took a while after the baby was born for things to settle down again.
Hypernyms (to "calm" is one way to...):
change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Derivation:
calm (steadiness of mind under stress)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
calm; sedate; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize
Context example:
The patient must be sedated before the operation
Hypernyms (to "calm" is one way to...):
affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "calm"):
hypnotise; hypnotize; mesmerise; mesmerize (induce hypnosis in)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Derivation:
calm (steadiness of mind under stress)
Context examples
And through it all, calm and impassive, leaning on his elbow and gazing down, Wolf Larsen seemed lost in a great curiosity.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Madam Mina still sleeps; and, God be thanked! she is calm in her sleep....
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
It was impossible to bale it, but he was calmer now and managed to catch them in his tin bucket.
(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)
I know him, said the Old Soldier, fanning herself, in a sort of calm prophetic agony, and I know he'll die there, sooner than he'll overturn the Doctor's plans.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
"I say, this is a pretty warm reception for a poor lone wolf from the Arctic," the master said, while White Fang calmed down under his caressing hand.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
He speedily learned that Perrault and François were fair men, calm and impartial in administering justice, and too wise in the way of dogs to be fooled by dogs.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her communication.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
Holmes was outwardly calm, but his whole body gave a wriggle of suppressed excitement as he spoke.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquillity.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
The use of special drugs called sedatives to relieve extreme suffering by making a patient calm, unaware, or unconscious.
(Palliative sedation, NCI Dictionary)
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