kˈoʊld wˈeɪv ɪz ɐ lˈuːsli dᵻfˈaɪnd mjˈuːzɪk ʒˈɑːnɹə ðæt ɪmˈɜːdʒd ɪn jˈʊɹɹəp ɪnðə lˈeɪt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti z, kˈæɹɪktɚɹˌaɪzd baɪ ɪts dɪtˈætʃt lˈɪɹɪkəl tˈoʊn, jˈuːs ʌv ˈɜːli ᵻlɛktɹˈɑːnɪk mjˈuːzɪk ˈɪnstɹəmənts ænd ɐ mˈɪnɪməlˌɪst ɐpɹˈoʊtʃ ænd stˈaɪl.
Cold wave is a loosely defined music genre that emerged in Europe in the late 1970s, characterized by its detached lyrical tone, use of early electronic music instruments and a minimalist approach and style.