• (British) IPA: /ˈkɜːnəl/
• (America) IPA: /ˈkɝnəl/

colonel (plural colonels)

1. A commissioned officer in an armed military organization, typically the highest rank before flag officer ranks (generals). It is generally found in armies, air forces or naval infantry (marines).
   • 1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter I, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 731476803 ↗:

     The colonel and his sponsor made a queer contrast: Greystone long and stringy, with a face that seemed as if a cold wind was eternally playing on it. […] But there was not a more lascivious reprobate and gourmand in all London than this same Greystone.

• bird colonel

• French: colonel
• German: Oberst
• Italian: colonnello
• Portuguese: coronel
• Russian: полко́вник
• Spanish: coronel

colonel (colonels, present participle coloneling; past and past participle coloneled)

1. (intransitive) To act as or like a colonel.

colonel (uncountable)

1. (military) The military officer title.