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
Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
Incidence rates of colon cancer are higher in disadvantaged communities, where residents are exposed to higher pollution rates, Halline said.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Bowel function tests: These help your healthcare provider see how well your stool moves through your colon and can help show signs of other health conditions that may be causing your constipation.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 8 Apr. 2025
The actress died from colon cancer in 2019 at age 72.
—Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for colon
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Noun
Baralt, who is Jose Menendez's sister, is battling colon cancer.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2025
Incidence rates of colon cancer are higher in disadvantaged communities, where residents are exposed to higher pollution rates, Halline said.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Bowel function tests: These help your healthcare provider see how well your stool moves through your colon and can help show signs of other health conditions that may be causing your constipation.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 8 Apr. 2025
The actress died from colon cancer in 2019 at age 72.
—Ariana Quihuiz, People.com, 8 Apr. 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 20 Apr. 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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