The term 'common cold' is a phrase used to describe a mild viral infection of the upper respiratory system. It is characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and a runny or stuffy nose. The two crossword solutions for this term are 'sneeze' (6 letters) and 'BUG' (3 letters). Sneeze is a reflex action that occurs when the body is trying to expel irritants from the nose and throat. BUG is a slang term for a virus, which is one of the main causes of the common cold.