COLA
abbr.
cost-of-living adjustment
co·la 1 (kl)
n.
A carbonated soft drink containing an extract of the cola nut and other flavorings. Also called regionally dope.
co·la 2 (kl)
n.
Plural of colon1.
co·la 3 (kl)
n.
A plural of colon2.
co·la 4 also ko·la (kl)
n.
Either of two tropical African evergreen plants (Cola acuminata or C. nitida) having reddish fragrant nutlike seeds yielding an extract that contains caffeine and theobromine and is used in carbonated beverages and pharmaceuticals.
[Of West African origin; akin to Temne kla, kola nut.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
cola1, kola [ˈkəʊlə]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) either of two tropical sterculiaceous trees, Cola nitida or C. acuminata, widely cultivated in tropical regions for their seeds (see cola nut)
2. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Brewing) a sweet carbonated drink flavoured with cola nuts
[from kola, probably variant of Mandingo kolo nut]