cold war

• Estado prolongado de tensão política e militar entre dois ou mais países, geralmente caracterizado por conflito ideológico, espionagem e guerras por procuração, em vez de confronto armado direto. Refere-se mais comumente ao período de tensão geopolítica entre os Estados Unidos e a União Soviética do final dos anos 1940 ao início dos anos 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.

   Guerra Fria

   • 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.

   Guerra Fria

   • 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.