colon
/'koulən/
Definition
- Noun:
- A punctuation mark (:): The colon is used after a word that introduces a series, an example, an explanation, or a quotation. It also follows the salutation in a formal business letter.
- A section of the large intestine: In anatomy, the colon is the part of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum. Its primary function is to absorb water and salts from food matter before waste is excreted.
- A unit of currency: The colon is the basic monetary unit of Costa Rica and was formerly the unit of El Salvador, subdivided into 100 centimos (Costa Rica) or 100 centavos (El Salvador).
- A port city: Colon is a city in Panama, situated at the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Punctuation):
- Remember this rule: a colon must follow an independent clause.
- The ingredients are: flour, sugar, eggs, and milk.
- Noun (Anatomy):
- The doctor said the polyp was found in his descending colon.
- A healthy colon is essential for proper digestion.
- Noun (Currency):
- The book cost five hundred colones. (Costa Rica)
- Prices were listed in colones before El Salvador adopted the US dollar.
- Noun (City):
- The cruise ship docked in the port of Colon.
Advanced Usage
- Colon in Rhetoric and Writing: A colon can be used to create anticipation or emphasis, directing the reader's attention to what follows.
- She had one goal: to win.
- Colon in Time Notation: In American English, a colon separates hours from minutes (e.g., 6:30 PM).
Variants and Related Words
- Colonic (adjective): Pertaining to the colon.
- He underwent a colonic irrigation.
- Colonist (noun): A settler in or inhabitant of a colony. (Note: This is a distinct word related to 'colony', not directly to the other meanings of 'colon').
- Colonize (verb): To establish a colony. (Note: This is a distinct word related to 'colony').
Synonyms
- Punctuation mark: None that are exact, but it serves a similar introductory function as a dash (—) in some contexts.
- Large intestine: bowel, gut (though these are less specific).
- Currency: (No direct synonyms; it is a proper noun for the currency).
Related Phrases
- Colon cancer: A type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon.
- Regular screening can help detect colon cancer early.
- Semi-colon (;) : A related punctuation mark used to link closely related independent clauses.
Related Idioms
- No direct idioms feature the word "colon" in its primary meanings. Idioms typically use the word in its anatomical sense within medical contexts (e.g., "spastic colon").
Noun
-
a punctuation mark (:) used after a word introducing a series or an example or an explanation (or after the salutation of a business letter)
-
a port city at the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal
-
the basic unit of money in Costa Rica; equal to 100 centimos
-
the basic unit of money in El Salvador; equal to 100 centavos
-
the part of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum; it extracts moisture from food residues before they are excreted
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