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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

columbus

/kəˈlʌmbəs/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does columbus mean?

noun

  1. A person who makes a great discovery.

proper noun

  1. A male given name from Latin.
  2. A surname.
More meanings (24)

proper noun

  1. Christopher Columbus (1451–1506), Italian explorer of the Americas.
  2. The capital city of Ohio, and the county seat of Franklin County.
  3. A city, the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, with which it is consolidated.
  4. A village in Adams County, Illinois.
  5. A city, the county seat of Bartholomew County, Indiana.
  6. A city, the county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas.
  7. A tiny home rule city in Hickman County, Kentucky.
  8. A small city in Anoka County, Minnesota, previously a township.
  9. A city, the county seat of Lowndes County, Mississippi.
  10. An unincorporated community and inactive township in Johnson County, Missouri.
  11. A town, the county seat of Stillwater County, Montana.
  12. A city, the county seat of Platte County, Nebraska.
  13. An unincorporated community in Burlington County, New Jersey.
  14. A village in Luna County, New Mexico.
  15. A town in Chenango County, New York.
  16. A town, the county seat of Polk County, North Carolina.
  17. A tiny city in Burke County, North Dakota.
  18. A small city, the county seat of Colorado County, Texas.
  19. A small city in Columbia County and Dodge County, Wisconsin.
  20. A town in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
  21. A number of townships, in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan (2), Nebraska and Pennsylvania, listed under Columbus Township.
  22. plural of Columbu

verb

  1. (dated, slang) To explore; to go around exploring, to go around as an explorer.
  2. (derogatory, slang) To appropriate; to lay claim to something, especially a discovery, which is perceived as belonging to someone else.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/kəˈlʌmbəs/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Nay, be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought.
Henry David ThoreauWalden, and On The Duty Of Civil DisobedienceProject Gutenberg ebook #205
The director of her conscience was astounded at having the case presented to him thus with the simplicity of Columbus’ egg.
Leo, graf TolstoyWar and PeaceTranslated by Aylmer Maude; Louise MaudeProject Gutenberg ebook #2600
More book examples (3)
A quarter of a century elapsed after the first voyage of Columbus before an expedition coasted along the shores of Mexico.
Emory Adams AllenThe Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished RacesProject Gutenberg ebook #2873
If some day a powerful state spring up on its shores, Burton will to all time be honoured as its indomitable Columbus.
Thomas WrightThe Life of Sir Richard BurtonProject Gutenberg ebook #4315
Without resorting to the fabulous method of Columbus, they balance eggs on a table, and in extraordinary ways defy all the powers of gravity.
George M. (George Milbrey) Gould; Walter L. (Walter Lytle) PyleAnomalies and Curiosities of MedicineProject Gutenberg ebook #747