colophon

/ˈkɒləfən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkɑːləfən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkä-lə-fən -ˌfän/ (ame, mw)

colophon — noun

1. a small symbol, design, or printed name inside a book that identifies the publis

1.名詞C2
釋義

a small symbol, design, or printed name inside a book that identifies the publisher or printer.

例句

Mira recognized the bird colophon on the spine before she read the title.

recognize a publisher's colophon on the spine

Ishaan sketched three colophons for the children's press during the redesign meeting.

design a colophon for a publisher

同義詞
  • logo

    broader modern term for any company mark; colophon is tied to books and publishing

  • emblem

    broader symbolic mark; less specific to printers or publishers

  • imprint

    can overlap in publishing, but often means a publishing line rather than the symbol itself

文法句型

the colophon of [book/publisher]

用法筆記

Usually refers to a visual mark linked to a publisher or printer. Distinguish this from sense 2, which is a written note giving production details at the end of a book or manuscript.

常見錯誤

❌The colophon is the front cover design.
✅The colophon is the publisher's small mark inside the book.
💡a colophon is an identifying mark, not the whole cover.

2. a short statement placed after the main text in a printed work or handwritten co

2.名詞C2
釋義

a short statement placed after the main text in a printed work or handwritten copy, giving details about its making or printing.

例句

The colophon states that the manuscript was copied in Kyoto in 1684.

the colophon states that ...

Rachid found the scribe's name and date in the colophon.

find production details in the colophon

同義詞
  • inscription

    broader term for written words on a surface; colophon is a closing production note in a book or manuscript

  • note

    much more general; colophon is formal and specific to book production

文法句型

the colophon states that ...

in the colophon

用法筆記

Common with verbs like read, quote, and state. This sense is a short factual note, not the publisher's visual symbol in sense 1.

常見錯誤

❌The colophon is the story summary at the end.
✅The colophon is the note that records printing or copying details.
💡it gives production facts, not plot information.