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Webster 1913 Edition


Colossal

Co-los′sal

,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
colossal
, L.
colosseus
. See
Colossus
.]
1.
Of enormous size; gigantic; huge;
as, a
colossal
statue
.
“A colossal stride.”
Motley.
2.
(Sculpture & Painting)
Of a size larger than heroic. See
Heroic
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Colossal

COLOSSAL

,

Definition 2024


colossal

colossal

English

Adjective

colossal (comparative more colossal, superlative most colossal)

  1. Extremely large or on a great scale.
    • 2013 June 22, Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:
      Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. [] Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. Clever financial ploys are what have made billionaires of the industry’s veterans. “Operational improvement” in a portfolio company has often meant little more than promising colossal bonuses to sitting chief executives if they meet ambitious growth targets. That model is still prevalent today.
    A single puppy can make a colossal mess.

Synonyms

Translations

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French

Etymology

Formed from Latin colossus, from Greek κολοσσος (originally used by Herodotus in reference to statues in ancient Egyptian temples).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kɔlɔsal/

Adjective

colossal m (feminine singular colossale, masculine plural colossaux, feminine plural colossales)

  1. colossal, huge

Portuguese

Etymology

From colosso + -al.

Pronunciation

  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˌko.lo.ˈsaw/

Adjective

colossal m, f (plural colossais, comparable)

  1. colossal (extremely large)

Synonyms