mild
gb/mˈaɪld/ us/mˈaɪld/
A2
Anglais
~ 8200
Sens
0 sens
adjective
A2
property
1
not strong or extreme
Not very strong or serious.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone]/[something] is mild
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'mild' with 'soft'. 'Mild' is usually about strength or seriousness (mild pain, mild illness), while 'soft' is about touch or sound (soft bed, soft voice). Also, with illnesses, learners may say 'small flu' instead of 'a mild case of flu'.
Synonymes
slight (Very similar, but often suggests something small enough to almost not matter.)
|
moderate (Suggests a middle level, often a bit stronger than 'mild' and common in medical or formal contexts.)
|
gentle (Can describe low strength but often carries a softer, kinder emotional tone.)
Antonymes
severe (Describes something very serious or intense, especially illnesses, pain, or weather.)
|
intense (Focuses on very strong force or feeling, the opposite of 'mild'.)
Collocations
mild pain
|mild symptoms
|mild headache
|a mild case of [illness]
|mild irritation
|relatively mild
Thèmes
daily life
|health
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She felt only mild pain after the operation.
- The doctor said it was a mild infection and would clear up quickly.
- He showed a mild interest in the project but nothing more.
- Thankfully, the damage to the car was fairly mild.
- His comments caused only mild concern among the staff.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I have a mild fever, but I can still work.
- The movie gave me mild fear, but it was not very scary.
- She has a mild headache and needs to rest.
- There was mild traffic, so we were only a little late.
- He felt mild stress before the exam.
adjective
A2
property
2
pleasantly not hot or cold
Describes weather that is warm or cool in a comfortable way, not hot and not cold.
Schéma d’usage :
mild [weather/temperature/winter/climate/day]
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners say 'soft weather' when they mean 'mild weather'. In English, 'soft' is not used for temperature; 'mild' or 'pleasant' is natural.
Synonymes
pleasant (Emphasizes that the weather feels nice, not just that it is moderate.)
|
balmy (Describes mild, warm weather, often with a slightly poetic or positive tone.)
Antonymes
harsh (Describes weather that is very uncomfortable, such as very cold or very hot.)
|
bitter (Commonly used for very cold weather, the opposite of mild cold conditions.)
Collocations
mild weather
|a mild winter
|mild climate
|mild temperatures
|unusually mild
|quite mild
Thèmes
weather
|nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- We had an unusually mild winter this year.
- The climate here is mild and rainy, even in summer.
- It was a mild evening, so we ate dinner outside.
- Temperatures will remain mild throughout the week.
- Thanks to the mild weather, the roads stayed clear of snow.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The weather is mild today, so I do not need a coat.
- They like the city because it has a mild climate.
- This winter is very mild, and there is no snow.
- It is a mild day, perfect for a walk.
- Spring is usually mild in this country.
adjective
A2
property
3
not strong in taste
Describes food, drink, or a product that does not taste or feel strong or sharp.
Schéma d’usage :
mild [cheese/curry/soap/flavor/taste]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes say 'weak taste' when talking about food. While understandable, 'mild taste' or 'not very strong' is more natural. Also, do not confuse 'mild' with 'sweet'; something mild is not necessarily sweet, just not strong.
Synonymes
light (Can suggest a gentle taste or a product that is not heavy or strong, often used with foods and drinks.)
|
gentle (For products like soap or shampoo, stresses that it does not hurt the skin or hair.)
|
not spicy (Plain description often used when talking specifically about food that lacks hot spice.)
Antonymes
strong (Describes food or drink with a powerful taste or smell.)
|
spicy (Opposite when talking about how hot or peppery food is.)
|
harsh (Opposite when talking about products that can irritate skin or surfaces.)
Collocations
mild cheese
|mild curry
|mild taste
|mild flavor
|mild soap
|mild shampoo
Thèmes
food
|health
|daily life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- If you don't like spicy food, order the mild curry.
- The cheese has a mild, creamy flavor that children love.
- Use a mild shampoo if you have a sensitive scalp.
- The sauce was too mild for my taste; I prefer something stronger.
- This soap is mild enough for babies' skin.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The soup is mild and not spicy.
- She bought a mild shampoo for her baby.
- I like mild cheese on my sandwich.
- He ordered a mild curry because he hates hot food.
- This soap is very mild and does not hurt my hands.
adjective
B1
property
4
gentle and not harsh
Describes a person who is calm and kind, and does not get angry or act hard with others.
Schéma d’usage :
a mild [person/manner/tone/temper]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may try to use 'mild' where 'kind' or 'nice' is better. 'Mild' describes the strength of a person's behavior or temper (they are not harsh or strong), while 'kind' focuses more on wanting to help others.
Synonymes
gentle (Very close in meaning, often suggests kindness and softness in behavior.)
|
soft-spoken (Focuses on speaking quietly and gently, often overlapping with a mild character.)
|
easygoing (Suggests relaxed and not easily upset, often more informal than 'mild'.)
Antonymes
harsh (Describes someone who speaks or behaves in a hard, unkind way.)
|
strict (Opposite when talking about how strongly someone controls others' behavior.)
|
hot-tempered (Describes someone who gets angry quickly, the opposite of a mild temper.)
Collocations
mild manner
|mild-mannered man
|mild expression
|mild tone
|mild temper
|a mild look
Thèmes
personality
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- He is a mild man who never raises his voice.
- Despite her mild manner, she can be very determined.
- Her mild tone helped calm the angry crowd.
- He gave her a mild, understanding smile.
- The teacher was known for her mild temper and patience with students.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My grandfather is a very mild person.
- She speaks in a mild voice.
- He has a mild manner, so everyone likes him.
- The boss is strict, but his wife is mild.
- Her mild tone makes people feel safe.
adjective
B2
property
5
not severe in punishment
Describes a punishment or strong words that are not very hard or serious.
Schéma d’usage :
a mild [punishment/sentence/penalty/criticism/rebuke]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes say 'small punishment' instead of 'mild punishment' or 'light punishment'. 'Small' usually describes size or amount, not the severity of a punishment.
Synonymes
lenient (Focuses on being forgiving or not strict enough, especially in legal or school contexts.)
|
light (Common in legal or disciplinary contexts to mean not very severe.)
|
gentle (Suggests a soft or kind way of criticizing or punishing.)
Antonymes
harsh (Describes punishment or criticism that is very severe and hard.)
|
heavy (Common in legal or financial contexts to describe strong penalties or sentences.)
|
severe (General opposite, especially in formal or legal language.)
Collocations
mild punishment
|mild sentence
|mild penalty
|mild criticism
|a very mild warning
|seems rather mild
Thèmes
law
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Many people thought the fine was too mild for such a serious crime.
- The judge gave her a mild sentence because it was her first offense.
- He received only a mild warning for arriving late.
- The review contained some mild criticism of the company's strategy.
- Considering the damage he caused, the punishment seemed surprisingly mild.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The student got a mild punishment for cheating.
- She gave him a mild warning for being late.
- He thinks the fine is too mild for that crime.
- The man got a mild sentence in court.
- Her words were mild, not very strong.
adjective
B1
property
6
gentle, not damaging
Describes a product or treatment that does not hurt or damage skin, clothes, or the body.
Schéma d’usage :
mild [detergent/cleaner/treatment/chemical]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may say 'soft soap' or 'soft medicine' when they mean it should not be harsh. In English, 'mild' or 'gentle' is used for effect on skin and body, not 'soft'.
Synonymes
gentle (Very close in meaning; common for describing products that do not irritate the skin.)
|
non-irritating (Technical or descriptive term stressing that something does not cause irritation.)
Antonymes
harsh (Describes products or treatments that can cause damage or irritation.)
|
strong (Focuses on high chemical power or effect that may harm skin or materials.)
Collocations
mild detergent
|mild cleaner
|mild acid
|mild solution
|mild treatment
|mild side effects
Thèmes
health
|household
|science
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Use a mild detergent for delicate fabrics.
- The doctor recommended a mild cream for my sensitive skin.
- This product contains only mild acids to exfoliate the skin gently.
- The treatment is quite mild and has few side effects.
- For this experiment, we used a mild solution of the chemical.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I need a mild soap for my hands.
- She bought a mild cleaner for the kitchen.
- The doctor gave me a mild cream for my face.
- This medicine is mild and does not make me sleepy.
- Use a mild detergent to wash baby clothes.
Nom
C1
entity
7
a type of English beer
A kind of British beer that is usually dark and has a soft taste, not very bitter or strong.
Schéma d’usage :
a pint of mild
Synonymes
mild ale (More specific term; clearly marks it as a kind of ale.)
Antonymes
bitter (Another traditional English beer style that is much more hop-bitter than mild.)
Collocations
pint of mild
|drink mild
|dark mild
|bitter and mild
|order a mild
Thèmes
food
|culture
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- He went to the bar for a pint of mild.
- Traditional pubs here still serve a good dark mild.
- She prefers mild to bitter because it's smoother and less hoppy.
- The brewery has reintroduced its classic mild after many years.
- Locals often choose mild as an easy-drinking session beer.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He ordered a pint of mild at the pub.
- In this town, many people drink mild.
- She likes mild because it is not very bitter.
- The pub sells both bitter and mild.
- They make a special dark mild in that brewery.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
mild
API
GB/mˈaɪld/
US/mˈaɪld/
Syllabes et accentuation
mild (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (mild)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: mild
- Comparative: milder
- Superlative: mildest
Famille de mots
Expressions
mild steel
1/mˈaɪld stˈil/
fixed phrase
technical
low-carbon, easily shaped steel
A common kind of steel with little carbon, which is not very hard and is easy to cut and shape.
Exemples
- The frame is made from mild steel.
- Mild steel is often used in construction because it is cheap and easy to work with.
- They chose mild steel for the project due to its flexibility.
mild-mannered
1/mˈaɪld mˈænɚd/
fixed phrase
having a gentle, calm manner
Describes someone who behaves in a quiet, calm, and gentle way.
Exemples
- He seems mild-mannered, but he can be very brave.
- The mild-mannered teacher suddenly raised her voice.
- She is a mild-mannered woman who avoids conflict.
on the mild side
1/ˈɔn ðə mˈaɪld sˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
slightly too mild or weak
Used to say that something is a little weaker, softer, or less strong than you would like or expect.
Exemples
- The curry was a bit on the mild side for my taste.
- Some critics found the punishment on the mild side.
- The movie is on the mild side, so it's fine for kids.
to put it mildly
1/tə pˈʊt ˈɪt mˈaɪldli/
idiom
to deliberately understate something
Used when you say that your words are less strong than the real situation, often to be polite or careful.
Exemples
- The meeting was a disaster, to put it mildly.
- She was upset, to put it mildly, when she heard the news.
- He's a bit difficult to work with, to put it mildly.
- The service at that restaurant is slow, to put it mildly.
- The train was crowded, to put it mildly—there was hardly room to stand.