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colon1 definition

co·lon (kō′lən)

noun

  1. a mark of punctuation (:) used before an extended quotation, explanation, example, series, etc. and after the salutation of a formal letter
  2. pl. cola co′la (-lə) in Greek prosody, a section of a prosodic period, consisting of a group of two to six feet forming a rhythmic unit with a principal accent

Etymology: L < Gr kōlon, part of a verse, member, limb < IE base *(s)kel-, to bend, crooked > L coluber, snake, calx, heel

colon2 definition

co·lon (kō′lən)

noun pl. colons -·lons or cola -·la (-lə)

that part of the large intestine extending from the cecum to the rectum

Etymology: L < Gr kolon

Related Forms:

  • colonic co·lon′ic (kə län′ik) adjective
colon3 definition

co·lon (kō̂ lōn′; E kə lōn′)

noun

a colonist, esp. one who owns a plantation

Etymology: Fr

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

finance colon definition - finance

medical colon definition - medical

colon Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • precede: The tag should be preceded by a colon ( : ) instead of an equal sign.

Converse of object

  • ascend: Ascending colon: The portion of bowel extending from the caecum to the hepatic flexure.

Adjective modifier

  • sigmoid: The tunnel runs in the loose connective tissues: Behind the sigmoid colon.

Modifies a noun

  • hydrotherapy: The positive affects of having colon hydrotherapy can be immediate.

Noun used with modifier

  • non-polyposis: The commonest is hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer ( HNPCC or Lynch syndrome ).
colon usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"colon." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/colon>

APA Style

colon. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/colon

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