An illness, with inflammation of the nasal passages, in which someone sneezes and coughs and has a blocked and running nose she had a heavy cold. also called common cold, coryza comment: a cold usually starts with a virus infection which causes inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose and throat. symptoms include running nose, cough and loss of taste and smell. coronaviruses have been identified in people with colds, but there is no cure for a cold at present.
