From Middle English calm , calme , from Middle French calme , probably from Old Italian calma , of uncertain origin. Calma may derive from Late Latin cauma ( “ heat of the midday sun ” ) , from Ancient Greek καῦμα ( kaûma , “ heat, especially of the sun ” ) , from καίω ( kaíō , “ I burn ” ) , or possibly from Latin caleō . Compare also Lombardic *chalm , *chalma ( “ frozenness ” ) , ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kalmaz ( “ frozenness, cold ” ) .
Displaced native Middle English smilte ( “ quite, still, gentle ” ) from Old English smylte ( “ quiet, tranquil, calm, serene ” ) .
( England , Wales ) IPA (key ) : /kɑːm/ , [kʰɑːm]
( General Australian , New Zealand ) IPA (key ) : /kaːm/ , [kʰɐːm]
( US ) IPA (key ) : /kɑm/ , /kɑlm/ , /kɔlm/ , ( archaic ) /kæm/ [ 1]
( Canada ) IPA (key ) : [kʰäː(ɫ)m] , [kʰɒː(ɫ)m] , [kʰa(ː)m]
( Ireland , Scotland ) IPA (key ) : /kam/
( nonstandard , now chiefly dialectal ) IPA (key ) : /kaɹm/
Rhymes: -ɑːm , -ɑːlm , -ɔːlm , -ɔːm , -æm
calm (comparative calmer or more calm , superlative calmest or most calm )
( of a person ) Peaceful , quiet , especially free from anger and anxiety .
Antonyms: stressed , nervous , anxious
( of a place or situation ) Free of noise and disturbance .
Antonym: disturbed
( of water ) with few or no waves on the surface; not rippled.
Without wind or storm .
Antonyms: windy , stormy
free from anger and anxiety
Apache:
Western Apache: nkegohenʼą́ą́go
Arabic: هَادِئ ( hādiʔ )
Armenian: հանգիստ (hy) ( hangist ) , հանդարտ (hy) ( handart ) , խախանդ (hy) ( xaxand )
Assamese: শান্ত ( xanto ) , শাঁত ( xãt )
Aymara: aliqa (ay)
Azerbaijani: arxayın
Bashkir: тыныс ( tınıs )
Belarusian: спако́йны (be) ( spakójny )
Bulgarian: спокоен (bg) ( spokoen )
Catalan: calm (ca)
Chinese:
Mandarin: 平靜 / 平静 (zh) ( píngjìng ) , 安靜 / 安静 (zh) ( ānjìng )
Corsican: calmu (co)
Czech: klidný (cs) m
Danish: rolig (da)
Dutch: vredig (nl) , kalm (nl)
Esperanto: trankvila (eo)
Finnish: rauhallinen (fi) , tyyni (fi) , levollinen (fi)
French: calme (fr)
Galician: calmo m
Georgian: მშვიდი ( mšvidi ) , წყნარი (ka) ( c̣q̇nari )
German: ruhig (de)
Gothic: 𐌵𐌰𐌹𐍂𐍂𐌿𐍃 ( qairrus )
Greek: ήρεμος (el) ( íremos )
Ancient: γαληνός ( galēnós )
Hebrew: רגוע (he) m ( ragua )
Hindi: शांत (hi) ( śānt )
Hungarian: nyugodt (hu)
Irish: suaimhneach , socair
Italian: calmo (it)
Japanese: 穏やかな (ja) ( odayaka na ) , 静かな (ja) ( shizuka na ) , 平穏な (ja) ( heion na )
Kazakh: жуас ( juas )
Korean: 고요하다 (ko) ( goyohada ) , 잠잠하다 (ko) ( jamjamhada )
Kumyk: юваш ( yuwaş )
Latgalian: romons , mīrons
Latin: tranquillus , sēdātus , placidus
Latvian: rāms (lv)
Lithuanian: ramus (lt)
Macedonian: ми́рен ( míren )
Malay: tenang (ms)
Maori: mauritau
Northern Sami: ráfálaš
Norwegian Bokmål: rolig (no)
Norwegian Nynorsk: roleg
Occitan: calme (oc)
Old English: smylte , stille
Ottoman Turkish: ساكن ( sakin ) , دولك ( dölek )
Persian: آرام (fa) ( ârâm )
Polish: spokojny (pl) m , opanowany (pl) m
Portuguese: tranquilo (pt) , calmo (pt) , sossegado (pt)
Romanian: liniștit (ro) , calm (ro)
Russian: споко́йный (ru) m ( spokójnyj ) , ти́хий (ru) m ( tíxij )
Scottish Gaelic: suaimhneach
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: миран
Roman: miran (sh)
Slovak: pokojný (sk)
Slovene: miren (sl)
Southern Altai: јобош ( ǰoboš )
Spanish: calmado (es)
Swedish: lugn (sv) , rofylld (sv)
Tajik: ором (tg) ( orom )
Tok Pisin: belisi
Turkish: sakin (tr) , durgun (tr) , dingin (tr)
Ukrainian: спокі́йний ( spokíjnyj )
Venetan: cet (vec)
Yiddish: רויִק ( ruik )
Zazaki: vınderde , sakin
free of noise and disturbance
Armenian: հանգիստ (hy) ( hangist ) , հանդարտ (hy) ( handart ) , խախանդ (hy) ( xaxand )
Bashkir: тыныс ( tınıs )
Belarusian: спакойны (be) ( spakójny )
Bulgarian: тих (bg) ( tih ) , мирен (bg) ( miren )
Catalan: calm (ca)
Czech: klidný (cs) m
Danish: rolig (da) , stille (da)
Dutch: kalm (nl) , rustig (nl)
Esperanto: serena
Finnish: rauhallinen (fi) , tyyni (fi) , levollinen (fi)
French: calme (fr) m or f , tranquille (fr)
Georgian: წყნარი (ka) ( c̣q̇nari ) , მშვიდი ( mšvidi )
German: ruhig (de)
Greek: γαλήνιος (el) ( galínios )
Hebrew: שלוו ( shalev )
Hungarian: csendes (hu)
Ingrian: tyyni
Irish: suaimhneach , socair , ciúin
Japanese: 平穏な (ja) ( heion na ) , 泰平な (ja) ( taihei na ) , 平静な (ja) ( heisei na )
Latin: tranquillus , placidus
Luxembourgish: roueg
Macedonian: ми́рен ( míren ) , спо́коен ( spókoen ) , ти́вок ( tívok )
Northern Sami: ráfálaš , goalki
Norwegian Bokmål: rolig (no) , fredelig (no)
Norwegian Nynorsk: roleg , fredeleg
Old English: smylte , stille
Plautdietsch: stell
Polish: cichy (pl) , spokojny (pl)
Portuguese: tranquilo (pt) , calmo (pt)
Romanian: liniștit (ro) , calm (ro) , senin (ro)
Russian: споко́йный (ru) ( spokójnyj )
Scottish Gaelic: suaimhneach
Spanish: calmado (es)
Swedish: lugn (sv) , stilla (sv)
Tatar: калим ( qalim )
Turkish: sakin (tr) , durgun (tr) , dingin (tr)
Ukrainian: спокі́йний ( spokíjnyj ) , за́ти́шни́й ( zátýšnýj )
Yiddish: רויִק ( ruik )
(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
Translations to be checked
calm (countable and uncountable , plural calms )
( in a person ) The state of being calm; peacefulness ; absence of worry , anger , fear or other strong negative emotion.
1850 , [Alfred, Lord Tennyson ], In Memoriam , London: Edward Moxon , [ … ] , →OCLC , Canto XI:Calm on the seas, and silver sleep, And waves that sway themselves in rest, And dead calm in that noble breast Which heaves but with the heaving deep.
( in a place or situation ) The state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance .
A period of time without wind .
1851 November 14, Herman Melville , chapter 64, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale , 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers ; London: Richard Bentley , →OCLC , page 324 :It was a calm ; so, forming a tandem of three boats, we commenced the slow business of towing the trophy to the Pequod.
condition of being unworried and free from anger
Armenian: հանգստություն (hy) ( hangstutʻyun ) , խաղաղություն (hy) ( xaġaġutʻyun )
Bulgarian: спокойствие (bg) n ( spokojstvie ) , покой (bg) m ( pokoj )
Catalan: calma (ca) f
Chinese:
Mandarin: 平靜 / 平静 (zh) ( píngjìng )
Czech: klid (cs) m
Danish: ro (da) c
Dutch: sereniteit (nl) f
Finnish: rauhallisuus (fi) , tyyneys (fi) , levollisuus (fi)
Greek: ηρεμία (el) f ( iremía )
Hebrew: רוגע m ( roga )
Japanese: 平穏 (ja) ( heion ) , 平静 (ja) ( heisei )
Macedonian: спо́којство n ( spókojstvo ) , спо́кој m ( spókoj ) , мир (mk) m ( mir )
Northern Sami: ráfálašvuohta
Polish: spokój (pl) m
Portuguese: calma (pt) f
Romanian: liniște (ro) f
Russian: поко́й (ru) m ( pokój ) , споко́йствие (ru) n ( spokójstvije )
Spanish: sosiego (es) m , calma (es) f
Swedish: ro (sv) c , lugn (sv) n
Turkish: sükûnet (tr) , dinginlik (tr)
Ukrainian: спо́кій m ( spókij )
the state with absence of noise and disturbance
Armenian: հանգիստ (hy) ( hangist ) , խաղաղություն (hy) ( xaġaġutʻyun )
Bulgarian: тишина (bg) f ( tišina )
Catalan: calma (ca) f
Danish: ro (da) c , stilhed (da)
Dutch: rust (nl) m or f
Finnish: rauhallisuus (fi) , tyyneys (fi) , levollisuus (fi)
German: Ruhe (de) f
Greek: γαλήνη (el) f ( galíni ) , ησυχία (el) f ( isychía )
Ancient: ἡσυχία f ( hēsukhía )
Hebrew: שלווה (he) f ( shalva )
Japanese: 平安 (ja) ( heian ) , 平静 (ja) ( heisei )
Latin: quiēs (la) f
Macedonian: ти́шина f ( tíšina )
Northern Sami: goalki
Polish: spokój (pl) m
Portuguese: calma (pt) f , tranquilidade (pt) f , sossego (pt) m
Romanian: liniște (ro) f
Russian: поко́й (ru) m ( pokój ) , тишина́ (ru) f ( tišiná )
Spanish: sosiego (es) m
Swedish: ro (sv) c , stillhet (sv) c , lugn (sv) n
Tatar: калим ( qalim )
Turkish: sükûnet (tr) , dinginlik (tr)
Ukrainian: спо́кій m ( spókij )
period without wind
Bulgarian: безветрие (bg) n ( bezvetrie ) , затишие (bg) n ( zatišie )
Catalan: calma (ca) f
Danish: vindstille
Dutch: windstilte (nl) f
Estonian: tuulevaikus
Finnish: tyven (fi) , tyyni (fi) , pläkä
French: calme plat (fr) m , calme (fr) m
German: Windstille (de) f
Gothic: 𐍅𐌹𐍃 n ( wis )
Greek:
Ancient: γαλήνη f ( galḗnē )
Hungarian: szélcsend (hu)
Japanese: 無風 (ja) ( mufū )
Latin: malacia f
Macedonian: зати́шие n ( zatíšie ) , за́тишје n ( zátišje ) , безве́трина f ( bezvétrina ) , безве́трие n ( bezvétrie ) ( archaic )
Maori: rahopē ( refers to condition at sea ) , āio
Northern Sami: goalki
Polish: cisza (pl) f , flauta (pl) f ( nautical )
Portuguese: calmaria (pt) f
Russian: зати́шье (ru) n ( zatíšʹje ) , безве́трие (ru) n ( bezvétrije ) , штиль (ru) m ( štilʹ ) ( nautical )
Scottish Gaelic: fèath m or f
Spanish: calma (es) f
Swahili: shwari (sw)
Swedish: stiltje (sv) , bleke (sv) , vindstilla (sv) c
Turkish: dinginlik (tr)
Ukrainian: зати́шшя n ( zatýššja ) , безві́тря (uk) n ( bezvítrja )
calm (third-person singular simple present calms , present participle calming , simple past and past participle calmed )
( transitive ) To make calm.
to calm a crying baby
to calm the passions
1697 , Virgil , “(please specify the book number) ”, in John Dryden , transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. [ … ] , London: [ … ] Jacob Tonson , [ … ] , →OCLC :to calm the tempest raised by Aeolus
( intransitive ) To become calm.
to make calm
Belarusian: супако́йваць impf ( supakójvacʹ ) , заспако́йваць impf ( zaspakójvacʹ )
Bulgarian: успокоявам (bg) ( uspokojavam ) , усмирявам (bg) ( usmirjavam )
Catalan: calmar (ca)
Czech: uklidnit (cs)
Danish: berolige
Dutch: kalmeren (nl) , gerust stellen
Finnish: tyynnyttää (fi) , rauhoittaa (fi)
French: calmer (fr) , apaiser (fr)
Galician: calmar (gl)
German: beruhigen (de) , ruhig stellen
Greek: ηρεμώ (el) ( iremó )
Hebrew: הרגיע ( hirgía )
Hungarian: megnyugtat (hu) , lecsendesít (hu)
Ido: kalmigar (io)
Japanese: 静める (ja) ( shizumeru )
Kabuverdianu: branda , brandá , kalma , kalmá , sosega , sosegá
Latin: sēdō
Macedonian: сми́ри ( smíri ) , успо́кои ( uspókoi )
Maori: roki ( of waves ) , whakarokiroki ( of waves ) , whakarangimārie
Northern Sami: ráfohit , ráfáiduhttit
Norwegian Bokmål: roe (no) , berolige
Norwegian Nynorsk: roe
Old English: *smyltan , stillan
Polish: uspokajać (pl) impf , uspokoić (pl) pf
Portuguese: acalmar (pt)
Romanian: liniști (ro) , calma (ro) , potoli (ro)
Russian: успока́ивать (ru) impf ( uspokáivatʹ ) , успоко́ить (ru) pf ( uspokóitʹ )
Swedish: lugna (sv) , stilla (sv) , blidka (sv) , beveka (sv)
Tatar: калим ( qalim )
Turkish: sakinleştirmek (tr) , dindirmek (tr) ( wind, tears etc ) , yatıştırmak (tr)
Ukrainian: заспоко́ювати impf ( zaspokójuvaty ) , заспоко́їти pf ( zaspokójity )
to become calm
Bulgarian: успокоявам се ( uspokojavam se ) , стихвам (bg) ( stihvam )
Catalan: calmar (ca)
Czech: uklidnit (cs)
Danish: blive stille , blive rolig
Dutch: afkoelen (nl) , kalmeren (nl)
Finnish: tyyntyä (fi) , rauhoittua (fi)
Galician: calmar (gl) , acougar (gl) , sosegar
Hebrew: נרגע ( nirgá )
Hungarian: megnyugszik (hu) , lecsendesül (hu)
Ido: kalmeskar (io)
Japanese: 静まる (ja) ( shizumaru )
Khiamniungan Naga: tànglō
Macedonian: се сми́ри ( se smíri )
Northern Sami: ráfut
Norwegian: roe seg
Old English: *smyltan , stillan
Ottoman Turkish: دولنمك ( dölenmek )
Pitjantjatjara: atanarinyi ( wind or weather )
Polish: uspokajać się impf , uspokoić się pf
Portuguese: acalmar -se , ficar calmo
Romanian: (please verify ) se liniști (ro)
Russian: успока́иваться (ru) impf ( uspokáivatʹsja ) , успокои́ться (ru) pf ( uspokoítʹsja )
Swedish: lugna (sv) sig
Turkish: sakinleşmek (tr) , dinmek (tr) ( wind, tears etc )
calm
Alternative form of calme
calm
Alternative form of calme