colon (1) definition - Dictionary

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colon (1)

co·lon [ kṓlən ] (plural co·lons)

noun

Definition:

1. punctuation mark: the punctuation mark (:) used to divide distinct but related sentence components such as clauses in which the second elaborates on the first, or to introduce a list, quotation, or speech. A colon is sometimes used in U.S. business letters after the salutation. Colons are also used between numbers in statements of proportion or time and Biblical or literary references.

2. mark used in phonetics: a mark (:) after a vowel in a system of phonetic writing that shows that the vowel is lengthened

3. (plural co·la [ kṓlə ]) unit of classical poetry: in Greek or Roman verse, a rhythmic unit consisting of two to six metrical feet with one main accent

[Mid-16th century. Via Latin< Greek kōlon "clause, limb"]

Word Usage


	A colon is used to divide a sentence when the second part explains or elaborates on what has gone before: They have put forward a different theory: the phenomenon may be caused by movements within the earth's crust. It is also used to introduce a list or sometimes a quotation: You will need the following equipment: a rucksack, waterproof clothing, strong walking boots, and a map.Martin Luther King wrote in Chaos or Community (1967): "A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard." A colon sometimes separates numbers, e.g., in Biblical references, ratios, and clock times: Genesis 13:8;a ratio of 6:4;the train that departs at 17:42. When a colon is followed by a full sentence, the first word is often capitalized.