cold war

• État de tension politique et militaire prolongée entre deux ou plusieurs pays, généralement caractérisé par un conflit idéologique, de l'espionnage et des guerres par procuration, plutôt que par un affrontement armé direct. Désigne le plus souvent la période de tension géopolitique entre les États-Unis et l'Union soviétique de la fin des années 1940 au début des années 1990.

A prolonged state of political and military tension between two or more nations, typically characterized by ideological conflict, espionage, and proxy wars rather than direct armed conflict. Most commonly refers to the period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union from the late 1940s to the early 1990s.

1. Historical period of tensionB2formal

   A prolonged state of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II, characterized by ideological conflict, arms races, and proxy wars, but without direct large-scale fighting.

   Guerre froide

   • The Cold War lasted from the late 1940s until the early 1990s.
   • The Berlin Wall was a powerful symbol of the Cold War.
   • The Cold War led to the development of nuclear arsenals by both superpowers.

2. Figurative conflictB2informal

   A state of intense rivalry or hostility between two groups or individuals that does not involve direct physical confrontation.

   guerre froide

   • There is a cold war between the two departments over budget allocations.
   • Their relationship has turned into a cold war, with neither speaking to the other.
   • The two companies are engaged in a cold war for market dominance.