cola
UK: ˈkəʊ.lə | US: ˈkoʊ.lə
n. a carbonated soft drink flavored with extracts from kola nuts or artificial substitutes
n. (botany) the kola tree or its nut, native to tropical Africa
The word "cola" originates from the West African name for the kola nut (Twi "kola"), which was historically used as a flavoring in beverages. The nut's caffeine content made it a stimulant in traditional cultures. When carbonated soft drinks adopted kola nut extract in the late 19th century, the shortened form "cola" became the generic term for such beverages. The suffix "-a" here functions as a nominalizer, though the word was borrowed whole from African languages without classical morphemic division.
The recipe originally included extracts from the cola nut.
She ordered a burger with a large cola.
Many modern colas use artificial flavorings instead of natural ingredients.
The cola tree is cultivated in West Africa for its seeds.
This brand’s cola has a distinct caramel note.