ENGLISH
REFERENCE

colossus

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //kəˈɫɑsəs// UK //kəlˈɒsəs// colos·sus

n. a person or thing that is extremely large, powerful, or influential. It often describes someone who is much more important than everyone else in their field.

n. a person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability. Often used metaphorically to describe a dominant figure who overshadows contemporaries.


SIMPLE

The famous scientist was a colossus in the world of physics.

CONTEXTUAL

The tech giant stands as a colossus over the industry, controlling nearly half of the global market share.

COMPLEX

In the history of nineteenth-century literature, he remains a colossus whose stylistic innovations continue to influence modern prose and poetry across multiple languages.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin colossus, from Ancient Greek κολοσσός (kolossós, “large statue, especially the colossus of Rhodes”), from an unknown Pre-Greek etymon (and erroneously associated with κολοφών).

Usage

The plural form is either 'colossi' or 'colossuses'.

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