colon

IPA/ˈkəʊ.lɒn/
KK[kˈolən]IPA/ˈkoʊ.lən/

colon — noun

  • colonsingular
  • colonsplural

1. the longest section of the large bowel, a tube-shaped organ where water gets pul

1.名詞B2
釋義

the longest section of the large bowel, a tube-shaped organ where water gets pulled out of food waste before it leaves the body

例句

An X-ray showed a blockage in Tuan's colon that needed surgery.

blockage in + colon — common medical collocation

A diet rich in fibre helps keep your colon healthy and working well.

keep + colon + healthy/working — beneficial action

同義詞
  • large intestine

    a broader term that includes the colon, the cecum, and the rectum

  • bowel

    more informal and general; often used in plural ('bowels') to refer to the whole intestinal system

文法句型

the colon

colon + verb

用法筆記

In everyday English, people often say 'large intestine' or 'bowel' instead of 'colon'. The colon is specifically the longest section of the large intestine.

常見錯誤

The doctor checked my colon with a stethoscope.
The doctor checked my abdomen with a stethoscope.
💡The colon is inside the body and cannot be examined directly with a stethoscope.

2. the mark (:) placed in a sentence to tell the reader that a list, a quotation, o

2.名詞A2
釋義

the mark (:) placed in a sentence to tell the reader that a list, a quotation, or an explanation comes next

例句

Please bring the following items: a pen, some paper, and a notebook.

colon before a list: [main clause]: [item], [item], [item]

Tyler opened his speech with these words: 'It is an honour to be here.'

colon before a direct quotation

文法句型

a colon

colon + noun phrase

用法筆記

A colon is different from a semicolon (;). A colon says 'here comes something that explains or lists what came before'; a semicolon connects two related complete sentences.

常見錯誤

I bought: apples, bananas, and oranges.
I bought these fruits: apples, bananas, and oranges.
💡A colon should follow a complete sentence, not a verb.

3. the currency of Costa Rica, and until 2001 also the currency of El Salvador; one

3.名詞B1
釋義

the currency of Costa Rica, and until 2001 also the currency of El Salvador; one colon can be exchanged for one hundred smaller coins

例句

The hotel room cost about forty thousand colones per night.

cost + [number] colones — price expression

When Yara visited San José, she paid for her meal in colones.

文法句型

[number] colones

in colones

用法筆記

The plural form is 'colones' (pronounced /koˈloʊneɪs/), not 'colons'. In Costa Rica the colon (CRC) is still actively used. In El Salvador it was replaced by the US dollar in 2001 and is only of historical interest.

常見錯誤

The price was fifty colons.
The price was fifty colones.
💡The plural of the currency is 'colones', not 'colons'.