colon

¹

[ koh-luhn ]

noun

, plural co·lons co·la [koh, -l, uh]

1. the sign (:) used to mark a major division in a sentence, to indicate that what follows is an elaboration, summation, implication, etc., of what precedes; or to separate groups of numbers referring to different things, as hours from minutes in 5:30; or the members of a ratio or proportion, as in 1 : 2 = 3 : 6.
2. Classical Prosody. one of the members or sections of a rhythmical period, consisting of a sequence of from two to six feet united under a principal ictus or beat.

colon

²

[ koh-luhn ]

noun

, plural co·lons, co·la [koh, -l, uh].

1. Anatomy. the part of the large intestine extending from the cecum to the rectum.
2. Zoology. the portion of the digestive tract that is posterior to the stomach or gizzard and extends to the rectum.

colon

³

[ koh-lohn; Spanish kaw-lawn ]

noun

, plural co·lons, Spanish co·lo·nes [kaw-, law, -nes].

1. the paper monetary unit of El Salvador, equal to 100 centavos. : C.
2. a cupronickel or steel coin and monetary unit of Costa Rica, equal to 100 centimos.

colon

⁴

[ koh-lon, kuh-lon ]

noun

1. a colonial farmer or plantation owner, especially in Algeria.

Colón

⁵

[ koh-lon; Spanish kaw-lawn ]

noun

1. a seaport in Panama at the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal.

colón

¹

/ kəʊˈləʊn; koˈlon /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Costa Rica, divided into 100 céntimos
2. the former standard monetary unit of El Salvador, divided into 100 centavos; replaced by the US dollar in 2001

colon

²

/ ˈkəʊlən /

noun

1. the part of the large intestine between the caecum and the rectum

colon

³

/ ˈkəʊlən /

noun

1. -lons the punctuation mark :, usually preceding an explanation or an example of what has gone before, a list, or an extended quotation
2. -lons this mark used for certain other purposes, such as expressions of time, as in 2:45 p.m., or when a ratio is given in figures, as in 5:3
3. -la-lə (in classical prosody) a part of a rhythmic period with two to six feet and one principal accent or ictus

colon

⁴

/ kəˈlɒn; kɔlɔ̃ /

noun

1. a colonial farmer or plantation owner, esp in a French colony

Colón

⁵

/ koˈlɔn; kɒˈlɒn /

noun

1. a port in Panama, at the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal. Chief Caribbean port. Pop: 157 000 (2005 est) Former nameAspinwall
2. Archipiélago de Colón
   the official name of the Galápagos Islands

colon

/ kō′lən /

1. The longest part of the large intestine, extending from the cecum to the rectum. Water and electrolytes are absorbed, solidified, and prepared for elimination as feces in the colon. The colon also contains bacteria that help in the body's absorption of nutrients from digested material.

colon

¹

1. The middle and longest part of the large intestine . ( See digestive system .)

colon

²

1. A punctuation mark (:) used to introduce a description, an explanation, or a list. For example, “She would own only one kind of pet: a Siamese cat” and “The little boy announced that he wanted the following for his birthday: two sweaters, a new tent, and three toy cars.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of colon¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin cōlon, from Greek kôlon “limb; part of a clause or period”

Origin of colon²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek kólon “large intestine”

Origin of colon³

First recorded in 1890–95; from Latin American Spanish, after (Cristobal) Colón “(Christopher) Columbus”

Origin of colon⁴

First recorded in 1600–10, in earlier sense “husbandman”; 1955–60 in present sense; from French, from Latin colōnus “colonist, farmer, tenant farmer”

Word History and Origins

Origin of colon¹

C19: American Spanish, from Spanish, after Cristóbal Colón Christopher Columbus

Origin of colon²

C16: from Latin: large intestine, from Greek kolon

Origin of colon³

C16: from Latin, from Greek kōlon limb, hence part of a strophe, clause of a sentence

Origin of colon⁴

French: colonist, from Latin colōnus, from colere to till, inhabit

Example Sentences

The gut bacteria produce fatty acids, which cause the pH value to fall again in the first part of the colon.

From Science Daily

After he was evacuated from the front, doctors stitched up a ruptured intestine, removed part of his colon, and plied him with antibiotics.

From Science Magazine

They identified tight regulation of cell types and states in different regions of the organ, as well as a unique segment of the colon that is controlled by immune signals.

From Science Daily

IBD includes two primary types: ulcerative colitis, which affects the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can inflame any part of the digestive tract.

From Science Daily

For example, fibers help prevent cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and colon cancer.

From Science Daily