noun
colic
KOL-ihk
Colic (noun) means Severe, cramping pain in the abdomen, often linked to the digestive system. Example: “The horse was doubled over with colic and needed a vet urgently.”
noun
1
Severe, cramping pain in the abdomen, often linked to the digestive system.
"The horse was doubled over with colic and needed a vet urgently."
2
Frequent, prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby, usually with no clear medical cause.
"Their newborn had colic and cried for hours every evening."
How to use colic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPainful stomach cramping — in babies, it means unexplained bouts of crying.
Common pairings
infant colic
a bout of colic
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like colic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- colics
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The horse was doubled over with _____ and needed a vet urgently.
Etymology
From French colique, ultimately from Greek kolikos, "suffering in the colon".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for colic
frolic
anabolic
Catholic
systolic
symbolic
apostolic
alcoholic
metabolic
parabolic
workaholic
melancholic
See all rhymes for colic →
Frequently asked questions
What does “colic” mean?
The word “colic” means severe, cramping pain in the abdomen, often linked to the digestive system. In plain terms, painful stomach cramping — in babies, it means unexplained bouts of crying.
How do you pronounce “colic”?
“Colic” is pronounced KOL-ihk (/ˈkɒl.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “colic” in a sentence?
Here is “colic” used in a sentence: “The horse was doubled over with colic and needed a vet urgently.”
What part of speech is “colic”?
“Colic” is a noun.
Where does the word “colic” come from?
The word “colic” comes from French. From French colique, ultimately from Greek kolikos, "suffering in the colon".
How many meanings does “colic” have?
“Colic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: severe, cramping pain in the abdomen, often linked to the digestive system.
