Why was the tension between the us and the ussr calledthed cold war?

The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was termed the "Cold War" because it did not escalate into direct military conflict between the two superpowers. Instead, it was characterized by political, ideological, and economic rivalry, along with proxy wars, espionage, and a nuclear arms race. The term "cold" reflects the absence of direct large-scale fighting, contrasting with the "hot" wars that involve active combat. This period, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the early 1990s, was marked by a struggle for global influence and differing visions of governance and society.