warm

Etymology 1

From Middle English warm, werm, from Old English wearm, from Proto-West Germanic *warm, from Proto-Germanic *warmaz, with different proposed origins: # Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer- (“warm, hot”), related to Ancient Greek θερμός (thermós), Latin formus, Sanskrit घर्म (gharma). # Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to burn”), related to Hittite [script needed] (warnuzi) and to Old Church Slavonic варити (variti). The dispute is due to differing opinions on how initial Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰ- evolved in Germanic: some think that *gʷʰ would have turned to *b, and that the root *gʷʰer- would instead have given rise to burn etc. Some have also proposed a merger of the two roots.

adj

1. Having a temperature slightly higher than usual, but still pleasant; mildly hot.
   The tea is still warm.
   This is a very warm room.
   Warm and still is the summer night. 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Herons of Elmwood
   It seemed I was too excited for sleep, too warm, too young. 1985, Robert Ferro, Blue Star
2. Caring and friendly, of relations to another person.
   We have a warm friendship.
3. Having a color in the red-orange-yellow part of the visible electromagnetic spectrum.
4. Close, often used in the context of a game in which "warm" and "cold" are used to indicate nearness to the goal.
5. Fresh, of a scent; still able to be traced.
6. (figurative) Communicating a sense of comfort, ease, or pleasantness
   a warm piano sound
7. (archaic) Ardent, zealous.
   a warm debate, with strong words exchanged
8. (archaic, informal) Well off as to property, or in good circumstances; prosperous.
   Mrs. and the Miss Cathcarts began to be considered as people of some consequence in the circle in which they moved, while he gradually obtained in the city the name of a warm man. 1791, Charlotte Smith, Celestina, Broadview, published 2004, page 258
9. (archaic) Requiring arduous effort.
   The circular iron platform over there is used in the task of tyring the wheels, a warm job, too, by the way. 1929, The Listener, numbers 41-50, page 552

Etymology 2

From Old English wierman.

verb

1. (transitive) To make or keep warm.
   enough to warm, but not enough to burn 1825, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Morituri Salutamus
2. (intransitive) To become warm, to heat up.
   My socks are warming by the fire.
   The earth soon warms on a clear summer day.
3. (transitive with to) (sometimes in the form warm up) To favour increasingly.
   Mr. Campion appeared suitably impressed and she warmed to him. He was very easy to talk to with those long clown lines in his pale face, a natural goon, born rather too early she suspected. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess
   He is warming to the idea.
   Her classmates are gradually warming to her.
4. (intransitive) To become ardent or animated.
   The speaker warms as he proceeds.
5. (transitive) To make engaged or earnest; to interest; to engage; to excite ardor or zeal in; to enliven.
   1717 November 20, Alexander Pope, letter to the Bishop of Rochester there was a collection of all that had been written […] : I warmed my head with them.
6. (transitive) To give emotional warmth to a person.
   That is just the way God tells me this book is His Word. I read it, and it warms me and gives me light. 1886, Joseph Augustus Seiss, Right Life: Or, Candid Talks On Vital Themes
7. (transitive, colloquial) To beat or spank.
   Not bothering to turn around and not missing a mouthful, Myrtle comforted her with threats of "I'll warm your bottom"; "I'll turn you over to your dad"; "I'll lock you in the truck"; "I'll send for the bogey man" — all of which Darleen ignored […] 1945, The Atlantic, volume 176, page 94
8. (transitive, colloquial) To scold or abuse verbally.
9. (computing, transitive) To prepopulate (a cache) so that its contents are ready for other users.

noun

1. (colloquial) The act of warming, or the state of being warmed; a heating.
   Shall I give your coffee a warm in the microwave?