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
Sarah Garone, Health, 26 Feb. 2025
But this was a seven-centimeter-deep puncture wound that nearly broke through my colon.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 23 Feb. 2025
Narrowing of the colon In 2021, Pope Francis underwent surgery for a diverticular stenosis of the colon in which 13 inches of his colon was removed, per previous from Vatican News and USA TODAY.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
In July 2021, the pope underwent a three-hour surgery to remove part of his colon, in response to diverticulitis, a condition that can infect or inflame the colon.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colon
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Noun
Just remember that yogurt consumption—and diet generally—is just one possible factor in colon cancer prevention.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 26 Feb. 2025
But this was a seven-centimeter-deep puncture wound that nearly broke through my colon.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 23 Feb. 2025
Narrowing of the colon In 2021, Pope Francis underwent surgery for a diverticular stenosis of the colon in which 13 inches of his colon was removed, per previous from Vatican News and USA TODAY.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
In July 2021, the pope underwent a three-hour surgery to remove part of his colon, in response to diverticulitis, a condition that can infect or inflame the colon.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colon
Cite this Entry
“Colon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colon. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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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