luke·warm

[look-wawrm]
adjective
1.
moderately warm; tepid.
2.
having or showing little ardor, zeal, or enthusiasm; indifferent: lukewarm applause.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English lukewarme tepid, equivalent to luke tepid (unexplained alteration of lew, Old English gehlēow tepid) + warme warm

luke·warm·ly, adverb
luke·warm·ness, luke·warmth, noun


2. halfhearted, cool, apathetic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To lukewarm
00:10
Lukewarm is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Collins
World English Dictionary
lukewarm (ˌluːkˈwɔːm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  (esp of water) moderately warm; tepid
2.  having or expressing little enthusiasm or conviction
 
[C14 luke probably from Old English hlēow warm; compare German lauwarm]
 
luke'warmly
 
adv
 
luke'warmness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

lukewarm
late 14c., from luke + warm. Figurative sense of "lacking in zeal" (of persons or their actions) is from 1520s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Wash the skin with large amounts of lukewarm water and soap.
Wash your feet every day with lukewarm water and mild soap.
If a date was dull or lukewarm, the editors would juice the footage by running
  scenes out of order or out of context.
For example, pour your lukewarm sports drink in an insulated container when
  doing outdoor exercise.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT