Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A city in western Georgia, USA: Columbus is a city located on the Chattahoochee River, known as an industrial center.
   • A town in eastern Mississippi, USA: Columbus is a town situated near the border with the state of Alabama.
   • Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer: An Italian navigator who, sailing under the sponsorship of Spain, completed voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, leading to the widespread European awareness of the American continents.
   • The capital city of Ohio, USA: Columbus is the state capital of Ohio, located in the center of the state and home to Ohio State University.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Places):

  • The manufacturing plant is a major employer in Columbus, Georgia.
  • We visited the historic district in Columbus, Mississippi.
  • Columbus, Ohio, is a vibrant and growing city.

• Proper noun (Person):

  • In 1492, Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Many history books discuss the voyages of Columbus.

Advanced Usage

• "Columbus Day": A U.S. federal holiday observed on the second Monday of October, commemorating the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492.
  • Schools and government offices are closed for Columbus Day.

Variants and Related Words

• Columbian (adj): Pertaining to Christopher Columbus or the city of Columbus.
  • The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread transfer of plants, animals, and culture following Columbus's voyages.

Synonyms

• Explorer: A person who explores an unfamiliar area.
• Navigator: A person who directs the route or course of a ship or other form of transportation, especially by using instruments and maps.

Related Phrases

• Pre-Columbian: Referring to the time or cultures in the Americas before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
  • Pre-Columbian art from Mesoamerica is highly valued.

Related Idioms

• "Columbus's egg": An idiom referring to a brilliant idea or discovery that seems simple after it has been revealed or accomplished.
  • Solving that problem was like finding Columbus's egg.

Noun

1. a city in western Georgia on the Chattahoochee River; industrial center
2. a town in eastern Mississippi near the border with Alabama
3. Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to China (1451-1506)
4. the state capital of Ohio; located in the center of the state; site of Ohio State University