colossal

Pronunciation: /kəˈlɑːsəl/ (American English)

Origin: From Latin "colossus," meaning "gigantic statue," derived from Ancient Greek "kolossos."

Meanings:

1. Extremely large or gigantic in size, extent, or amount
2. Of extraordinary greatness or importance

Example Sentences:

1. The new skyscraper is a colossal structure dominating the city skyline.
2. The team faced a colossal challenge in completing the project on time.
3. The earthquake caused colossal damage to the coastal region.

Related Words:

• Adjective forms: colossal
• Adverb form: colossally
• Noun form: colossus (plural: colossi)

Synonyms: enormous, gigantic, mammoth, massive, immense, gargantuan, titanic, monumental

Memorizable Tricks:

• Think of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which was a giant statue.
• Break it down: "co-loss-al" – imagine something so big, it causes a "loss" of perspective.
• Associate it with other "co-" words that imply greatness: colossal, cosmic, colossal