warm / wôrm/ • adj. 1. of or at a fairly or comfortably high temperature: a warm September evening | I walked quickly to keep warm. ∎  (of clothes or coverings) made of a material that helps the body to retain heat; suitable for cold weather: a warm winter coat. ∎  (of a color) containing red, yellow, or orange tones: her fair coloring suited soft, warm shades. ∎ Hunting (of a scent or trail) fresh; strong. ∎  (of a soil) quick to absorb heat or retaining heat.2. having, showing, or expressive of enthusiasm, affection, or kindness: they exchanged warm, friendly smiles a warm welcome. ∎ archaic characterized by lively or heated disagreement: a warm debate arose. ∎ archaic sexually explicit or titillating.3. inf. (esp. in children's games) close to discovering something or guessing the correct answer: you're getting warmer.• v. make or become warm: [tr.] I stamped my feet to warm them up | fig. the film warmed our hearts | [intr.] it's a bit chilly in here, but it'll soon warm up. PHRASES: keep something warm for someone hold or occupy a place or post until another person is ready to do so.PHRASAL VERBS: warm down recover from strenuous physical exertion by doing gentle stretches and exercises.warm to/toward (or warm up to/toward) begin to like (someone): she and Will had really warmed up to each other. ∎  become more interested in or enthusiastic about (something): I never really warmed to the idea of moving.warm up prepare for physical exertion or a performance by exercising or practicing gently beforehand: the band was warming up. ∎  (of an engine or electrical appliance) reach a temperature high enough to allow it to operate efficiently. ∎  become livelier or more animated: after several more rounds, things began to warm up in the bar.warm something up (or over) reheat previously cooked food. ∎  amuse or entertain an audience or crowd so as to make them more receptive to the main act.DERIVATIVES: warm·er n. [usu. in comb.] a towel-warmer. warm·ish adj.warm·ly adv.warm·ness n.ORIGIN: Old English wearm (adjective), werman, wearmian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German warm, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin formus ‘warm’ and Greek thermos ‘hot.’

warm moderately hot OE.; †comfortable, securely established XIV; ardent, eager; cordial, tender XV; lively, heated, excited XVI; comfortably off. OE. wearm = OS. (Du.) warm, OHG. war(a)m (G. warm), ON. varmr :- Gmc. *warmaz.
So warm vb. (i). OE. *wierman, werman, wirman tr. = OS. wermian (Du. warmen), OHG. wermen (G. wärmen), ON. verma, Goth. warmjan :- Gmc. *warmjan; (ii) OE. wearmian intr. = OHG. war(a)mēn (early modG. warmen):- Gmc. *warmǣjan. warmth XII. OE. *wiermðu, *wærmðu = MLG. wermede (Du. warmte), MHG. wermede (G. †wärmte):- WGmc. *warmiþō; see -TH1.