colon

CEFRB2

/ˈkəʊ.lən/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

Examples

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Also pronounced

Deep Dive

Extra meanings

A rhetorical figure consisting of a clause which is grammatically, but not logically, complete.
The triangular colon (especially in context of not being able to type the actual triangular colon).
The punctuation mark ⟨:⟩.

In context

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.

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Question 1 · Quick check

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

The word in print, with each source given in full.

A colon tells the reader that what follows is closely related to the preceding clause.
2005, William Strunk Jr., E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Penguin Press, page 15
Colorectal cancer refers to colon cancer, which starts in the colon, and rectal cancer, which starts in the rectum.
2025 March 21, Katia Hetter, “Reduce your risk of colon and rectal cancer with these basic steps”, in CNN
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.
1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 28

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From Latin cōlon (“a member of a verse of poem”), from Ancient Greek κῶλον (kôlon, “a member, limb, clause, part of a verse”).