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# colossus

noun (a colossus, colossi or colossuses); a name (the Colossus of Rhodes; Colossus — the computer)

«colossus» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A huge statue, much bigger than life size. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#m1)
2. A person, company or thing that is enormously big, powerful or important («a colossus of science»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#m2)
3. (a name) The Colossus of Rhodes: a giant bronze statue of the sun god Helios in ancient Greece, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#m3)
4. (a name) Colossus: one of the first electronic computers, built in Britain during the Second World War to help break German codes at Bletchley Park. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#m4)

### In the lessons

In history lessons the Colossus of Rhodes is one of the Seven Wonders; it fell in an earthquake about 2,200 years ago. In computing history, Colossus helped code-breakers. In sport and news, a «colossus» is a giant figure who dominates. It tells the reader something is enormous or hugely important.

### Examples

- The Colossus of Rhodes stood over thirty metres tall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#x1)
- An earthquake toppled the Colossus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#x2)
- The Colossus computer helped break secret codes in the war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#x3)
- The goalkeeper was a colossus in defence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#x4)
- The giant statue was a true colossus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#x5)
- Some people call that company a colossus of technology. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#x6)
- The famous Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the seven wonders of the world, was erected in honour of Helios. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/#x7)

### Note

Plural colossi («kuh-LOSS-eye») or colossuses. Adjective: colossal (huge). Myth: pictures often show the Colossus of Rhodes standing with legs across the harbour, but historians think that is unlikely.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «colossus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/colossus/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«colossus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/colossus.html) on Mova free.