col-

¹ American  

1. variant of com- before l: collateral.

---

col. ² American  

abbreviation

1. (in prescriptions) strain.

---

col- ³ American  

1. variant of colo- before a vowel.

   colectomy.

---

col. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. collected.

2. collector.

3. college.

4. collegiate.

5. colonial.

6. colony.

7. color.

8. colored.

9. column.

---

col ⁵ American  

[kol, kawl] / kɒl, kɔl /

noun

plural

cols

1. Physical Geography. a pass or depression in a mountain range or ridge.

2. Meteorology. the region of relatively low pressure between two anticyclones.

---

COL ⁶ American  

1. cost of living.

---

Col. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Colombia.

2. Colonel.

3. Colorado.

4. Bible. Colossians.

---

Col. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Colombia(n)

2. Colonel

3. Bible Colossians

---

col ² British  

/ kɒl, kɔl /

noun

1. the lowest point of a ridge connecting two mountain peaks, often constituting a pass

2. meteorol a pressure region between two anticyclones and two depressions, associated with variable weather

---

col- ³ British  

prefix

1. a variant of com-

   collateral

---

col- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. a variant of colo-

   colectomy

---

col. ⁵ British  

abbreviation

1. column

---

Usage

What does col- mean? Col- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the word colon, the part of the large intestine extending from the cecum to the rectum. It is often used in medical terms.Col- comes from the Greek kólon, meaning “large intestine.” The Greek kólon is also the source of such words as colic and colicky, a word which many parents may know all too well.Col-, when it refers to the colon, is a variant of colo-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use colo- article.

Etymology

Origin of col.²

From the Latin word colā

Origin of col⁵

1850–55; < French < Latin collum neck

Example Sentences

The sophisticated plan had been hatched by Lt Col Paul Henri Damiba, the military officer ousted by Traoré in September 2022, the security minister said in a late-night broadcast.

From BBC

There has been no comment from either Col Damiba or Ivory Coast.

From BBC

Col Damiba served as Burkina Faso's leader from January-September 2022 after seizing power from an elected government.

From BBC

Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the man was not believed to be part of a network.

From Barron's

Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch told media it is early days in their investigation, but there was no previous "record of concern for this individual".

From BBC