columbia
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a large river that flows through western Canada and the United States into the Pacific Ocean.
a major river of the Pacific Northwest, rising in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and flowing through Washington and Oregon.
Simple“The Columbia River provides a lot of hydroelectric power to the region.”
In context“The Columbia basin supports a complex ecosystem that has been significantly altered by the construction of numerous hydroelectric dams during the twentieth century.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a famous and prestigious university located in New York City.
a private Ivy League research university in Upper Manhattan, New York City, established in 1754.
Simple“She moved to New York to study journalism at Columbia.”
In context“Columbia remains one of the most selective institutions in the United States, consistently ranking among the top universities globally for research output.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a poetic or old-fashioned name for the United States of America.
a historical and poetic appellation for the United States, often personified as a female figure.
Simple“Old songs sometimes refer to the United States as Columbia.”
In context“In nineteenth-century political cartoons, Columbia was frequently depicted as a stately woman representing the virtues of the American republic.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
a major American company that produces movies, known as Columbia Pictures.
a major American film production and distribution company, currently a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group.
Simple“The movie was produced by Columbia and released in theaters last summer.”
In context“The iconic logo of Columbia Pictures features a woman holding a torch, a visual reference to the historical personification of the nation.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
a giant landmass that scientists believe existed on Earth billions of years ago.
a Proterozoic supercontinent, also known as Nuna, thought to have existed approximately 2.1 to 1.8 billion years ago.
Simple“Geologists study rocks to learn how the supercontinent Columbia broke apart.”
In context“The assembly of Columbia is thought to have been completed by global-scale collisional events, marking a significant period in Earth's tectonic history.”
Synonymsnuna
“Roselli finds a Hollywood ripe for the picking, quickly establishing himself amongst its top stars and moguls, including and especially Harry Cohn, the vicious co-founder and president of Columbia Pictures.”
From Columbus + -ia, the Latinized name of the European explorer, Christopher Columbus. Piecewise doublet of Colombia.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.