plural colons or cola
ˈkō-lə 
plural colons or cola
1
plural cola
: a rhythmical unit of an utterance
specifically, in Greek or Latin verse
: a system or series of from two to not more than six feet having a principal accent and forming part of a line
2
plural colons
a
: a punctuation mark : used chiefly to direct attention to matter (such as a list, explanation, quotation, or amplification) that follows
b
: the sign : used between the parts of a numerical expression of time in hours and minutes (as in 1:15) or in hours, minutes, and seconds (as in 8:25:30), in a bibliographical reference (as in Nation 130:20), in a ratio where it is usually read as "to" (as in 4:1 read "four to one"), or in a proportion where it is usually read as "is to" or when doubled as "as" (as in 2:1::8:4 read "two is to one as eight is to four")
variants
or less commonly colone
plural colones
kə-ˈlō-ˌnās
1
: the basic monetary unit of El Salvador until 2001
2
: the basic monetary unit of Costa Rica see Money Table
Examples of colon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum, which make up the large intestine (or large bowel).
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 3 Nov. 2024
Colorectal cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the colon or rectum.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024
To be clear, there are a few rare medical instances in which a colon cleanse is necessary, like before a colonoscopy.
—Tayler Adigun, Essence, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for colon 
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Noun
Colorectal cancer develops in the tissues of the colon or rectum and is the third most common cancer in the United States (excluding skin cancers).
—Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum, which make up the large intestine (or large bowel).
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 3 Nov. 2024
Colorectal cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the colon or rectum.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024
To be clear, there are a few rare medical instances in which a colon cleanse is necessary, like before a colonoscopy.
—Tayler Adigun, Essence, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for colon
Dictionary Entries Near colon
Cite this Entry
“Colon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colon. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
colon
1 of 2 noun
co·lon
ˈkō-lən
: the part of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum
colonic
adjective
kō-ˈlän-ik
colon
2 of 2 noun
: a punctuation mark : used chiefly to direct attention to what follows (as a list, explanation, quotation, or amplification)
Etymology
Noun
from Latin colon "part of the intestine," from Greek kolon (same meaning)
Noun
from earlier colon "rhythmic unit in verse," from Latin colon "part of a poem," from Greek kōlon "limb, part of a poem"
Medical Definition
Geographical Definition
Colón
geographical name
Co·lón
kō-ˈlōn
city and port on the Caribbean Sea at the entrance to the Panama Canal in northern Panama population 224,000
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