- the rivalry after World War II between the Soviet Union and its satellites on the one hand, and the United States and other Western democracies on the other: waged on many fronts including economic, political, educational, scientific, and military: During the Cold War, the space race provided another avenue of competition without direct military conflict.
- intense economic, political, military, and ideological rivalry between nations that does not extend to military conflict; sustained hostile political policies and an atmosphere of strain between opposed countries: The Sunni Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, became embroiled in a cold war with Shiite Iran.
- a continuing state of resentful antagonism between two parties that does not extend to open hostility or violence: She's fed up with this cold war between her husband and her mother.
- relating to the rivalry between the Soviet Union and Western democracies after World War II: Many industries benefited from Cold War defense spending.
- relating to hostile relations or intense rivalry between nations or persons that does not extend to open conflict: We both knew how much damage we were doing with our cold war tactics.
- a state of political hostility and military tension between two countries or power blocs, involving propaganda, subversion, threats, economic sanctions, and other measures short of open warfare, esp that between the American and Soviet blocs after World War II (the Cold War)
