cola
KOH-luh
Cola (noun) means a sweet, dark, fizzy soft drink originally flavored with kola nut extract and caramel. Example: “She ordered a burger and a cola.”
noun
1
A sweet, dark, fizzy soft drink originally flavored with kola nut extract and caramel.
"She ordered a burger and a cola."
"The bar was out of cola, so he had lemonade instead."
"He poured a tall glass of cola over ice and sat by the pool."
2
The kola nut itself, or the tropical tree it comes from.
"Cola nuts were traditionally chewed for their stimulant effect."
"The cola tree grows tall in the warm, wet forests of West Africa."
"He offered his guest a cola nut as a traditional sign of welcome."
3
Cannabis slang: a dense cluster of flower buds on a cannabis plant.
"The main cola on the plant had grown thick and heavy."
"Growers wait until each cola is dense and covered in sticky resin."
"She trimmed the leaves around every cola before hanging the branches to dry."
How to use cola
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost people just mean the fizzy brown soft drink — think Coke or Pepsi.
Common pairings
a can of cola
diet cola
cola nut
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Word forms
- Plural
- colas
Fill the gap
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She ordered a burger and a _____.
Etymology
From a West African language (compare Temne and Mandinka kola). The drink Coca-Cola made the word famous worldwide and popularized spelling it with a "c" instead of a "k".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cola
See all rhymes for cola →Frequently asked questions
What does “cola” mean?
The word “cola” means a sweet, dark, fizzy soft drink originally flavored with kola nut extract and caramel. In plain terms, most people just mean the fizzy brown soft drink — think Coke or Pepsi.
How do you pronounce “cola”?
“Cola” is pronounced KOH-luh (/ˈkoʊlə/ in IPA).
How do you use “cola” in a sentence?
Here is “cola” used in a sentence: “She ordered a burger and a cola.”
What part of speech is “cola”?
“Cola” is a noun.
Is “cola” a common word?
“Cola” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “cola” have?
“Cola” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sweet, dark, fizzy soft drink originally flavored with kola nut extract and caramel.
Is cola made from the kola nut?
Cola was originally flavored using extract from the kola nut, along with caramel, which is where the drink gets its name. Many modern cola recipes have shifted away from using real kola nut extract, though the name has remained.
What is the difference between cola and soda?
Cola refers specifically to a dark, sweet, fizzy soft drink flavored with kola nut extract and caramel, while soda is a broader general term for any carbonated soft drink, including flavors like lemon-lime or orange. Cola is one specific type within the wider category of soda.
What does 'cola' mean in cannabis growing slang?
In cannabis cultivation slang, a cola refers to a dense cluster of flower buds on the plant, usually forming at the top of a branch. This is a specialized, unrelated meaning distinct from the soft drink or the kola nut.
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