Colossus: meaning, definitions and examples

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colossus

 

[ หˆkษ’lษ™sษ™s ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

ancient history

A statue that is much bigger than life-size and usually represents a human or an animal.

Synonyms

giant statue, monument.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
colossus

A colossus is a very large statue or something immense in size or importance. It often implies something of great impact or significance.

  • The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
  • The tech company became a colossus in the industry almost overnight.
giant statue

Giant statue refers specifically to a statue that is very large in size. It is more straightforward and less grandiose compared to 'colossus'.

  • We visited a park that had a giant statue of a famous historical figure.
  • A giant statue of the Buddha can be seen from miles away.
monument

Monument generally refers to a structure created to commemorate a person or event. It could be any size and doesn't necessarily have to be a statue.

  • The Washington Monument is one of the most famous structures in the United States.
  • A monument was erected to honor the fallen soldiers.

Examples of usage

  • The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
  • The ancient Greeks built many colossi to honor their gods.
Context #2 | Noun

figurative

A person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability.

Synonyms

giant, powerhouse, titan.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
colossus

Used to describe something or someone extremely large or influential, often in a metaphorical sense.

  • The new tech company quickly became a colossus in the industry.
  • Shakespeare is a literary colossus whose works continue to be studied.
giant

Can describe something physically large or someone who is very important or influential in a field.

  • A giant tree stood in the middle of the forest.
  • Albert Einstein is considered a giant in the field of physics.
titan

Describes someone or something extremely powerful or influential, often with a sense of awe or admiration.

  • Steve Jobs was a titan in the world of technology.
  • The novel 'Moby-Dick' is a titan of American literature.
powerhouse

Refers to a person, team, or organization that is very strong and effective, often in a specific domain like sports, business, or other competitive fields.

  • The company is a powerhouse in the field of renewable energy.
  • The basketball team became a powerhouse, winning several championships.

Examples of usage

  • She was a colossus in the field of medicine.
  • The company became a colossus in the tech industry.

Translations

Translations of the word "colossus" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น colosso

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเคฟเคถเคพเคฒเค•เคพเคฏ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Koloss

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kolosal

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะบะพะปะพั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ kolos

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅทจๅƒ (ใใ‚‡ใžใ†)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท colosse

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ coloso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท dev

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฑฐ์ƒ (geosang)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนู…ู„ุงู‚ (eimlaq)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kolos

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ kolos

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅทจไบบ (jรนrรฉn)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ kolos

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ risi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะปั‹ะฟ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒ˜แƒ’แƒแƒœแƒขแƒ˜ (giganti)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nษ™hษ™ng

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ coloso

Etymology

The word 'colossus' comes from the Latin word 'colossus' meaning a statue larger than life. The most famous colossus in history is the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant statue of the sun god Helios built on the Greek island of Rhodes around 280 BC. It stood for only 56 years before being destroyed in an earthquake, but its legacy lives on as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,354, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.