col-

¹

1. variant of com- before l: collateral.

col.

²

abbreviation

1. (in prescriptions) strain.

col-

³

1. variant of colo- before a vowel.

   colectomy.

col.

⁴

abbreviation

1. collected.

2. collector.

3. college.

4. collegiate.

5. colonial.

6. colony.

7. color.

8. colored.

9. column.

col

⁵

[kol, kawl]

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

1. cost of living.

Col.

⁷

abbreviation

1. Colombia.

2. Colonel.

3. Colorado.

4. Bible.,  Colossians.

Col.

¹

abbreviation

1. Colombia(n)

2. Colonel

3. Bible Colossians

col

²

/ 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

prefix

1. a variant of com-

   collateral

col-

⁴

prefix

1. a variant of colo-

   colectomy

col.

⁵

abbreviation

1. column

Word History and Origins

Origin of col-¹

From the Latin word colā

Origin of col-²

1850–55; < French < Latin collum neck

Word History and Origins

Origin of col-¹

C19: from French: neck, col, from Latin collum neck

Example Sentences

"Secretary Driscoll and team arrived this morning in Kyiv on behalf of the administration on a factfinding mission to meet Ukrainian officials and discuss efforts to end the war," Army spokesman Col David Butler said in a statement.

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“For China, the point is that because the U.S. is afraid that they might lose in a conventional war, some people are suggesting using a nuclear weapon against China in the Taiwan Strait,” said retired Senior Col.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Now, in 2025, as I watched the movie on my iPad, some of the names of the characters—Gen. James Mattoon Scott, Col.

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Mercenary groups from Russia have supported Col Goïta's government since French and UN troops left, and further dependence could draw Mali further into Moscow's sphere of influence, potentially alienating Western aid and investment.

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The bodies of several hostages had been found in this area, Lt Col Shoshani said, including that of Itay Chen, returned to Israel by Hamas this week.

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When To Use

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.