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colossus Definition

co·los·sus (kə läsəs)

noun pl. colossi -·los′si′ (-ī′) or colossuses -·los′·suses

  1. a gigantic statue
  2. the gigantic statue of Apollo set at the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes c. 280 and included among the Seven Wonders of the World
  3. any huge or important person or thing

Etymology: ME < L < Gr kolossos

colossus Synonyms

colossus

n.

gigantic statue, Goliath, titan, leviathan; see giant 1, 2.

Colossus Usage Examples

Preposition: that

  • stride: The US must come to terms with the reality that she is no longer the colossus that strides the planet.

Converse of object

  • call: This had brought about the building of an unprecedented large electronic machine, called the Colossus, brought into action just before D-Day.
  • rebuild: He will end by showing a video ( or DVD ) of the rebuilt Colossus actually breaking a cipher text.
  • beat: The Fruit of the Dead Each time you beat a Colossus, your strength meter will increase.
  • like: He walks about them like a Colossus, while little men walk under him and understand him not.
  • put: To celebrate the 200th issue of the magazine, we have put together a colossus of an issue.
  • become: From humble beginnings as a village schoolmaster's son he grew to become a colossus in the world of symphonic music.

Adjective modifier

  • new: The appearance of Niall Ferguson's new book Colossus might therefore seem timely.
  • last: I didn't quite figure them out to the point of being comfortable with them until I was forced to with the last Colossus.
  • famous: Rhodes Town and harbor, where the famous Colossus once stood, is a mixture of ancient and modern.
  • military: In 1939, we acted for the sake of those helpless before a military colossus, for the sake of Germany's neighbors.
  • global: But how could a top four global media colossus have reached this catastrophic state and endure such a financial thrashing?

Modifies a noun

  • computer: You can visit Bletchley Park and see for yourself the reconstructed Colossus computer which was used to crack the German codes.
  • machine: Page 277: There were actually ten Colossus machines.

Noun used with modifier

  • software: The software colossus stands accused of using its market power unfairly.
  • name: I headed directly into the main arena and yes the name Colossus does do the name of this event justice.

Preposition: in

  • defense: King retorted by describing Reeves as a colossus in the defense.

Preposition: with

  • foot: Colossus with feet of clay The Iraqis have showed us something really important: the Empire is a colossus on feet of clay.
Colossus Quotes

Milton, Madam, was a genius that could cut a Colossus from a rock; but could not carve heads upon cherry- stones.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson