Colon

Quick meaning: Colon is a noun meaning The punctuation mark ⟨:⟩.

Meaning

The punctuation mark ⟨:⟩.

More Meanings

1. (rhetoric) A rhetorical figure consisting of a clause which is grammatically, but not logically, complete.
2. (palaeography) A clause or group of clauses written as a line, or taken as a standard of measure in ancient manuscripts or texts.
3. A European colonial settler, especially in a French colony.
4. (anatomy) Part of the large intestine; the final segment of the digestive system, after (distal to) the ileum and before (proximal to) the rectum. (Because the colon is the largest part of the large intestine (constituting most of it), it is often treated as synonymous therewith in broad or casual usage.)
5. (rare) The triangular colon (especially in context of not being able to type the actual triangular colon).
6. (obsolete) A husbandman.

Example Sentences

A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceding clause.

Colorectal cancer refers to colon cancer, which starts in the colon, and rectal cancer, which starts in the rectum.

The reaction of the European colons, a mixture of shock and fear, was to demand further draconian measures and to suspend any suggestion of new reforms.

Word Forms

• colons
• cola
• coli
• colone

Synonyms for colon

Depending on context, synonyms include colon-point.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include comma, appendix, pioneer, settler, colonel, punk.

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