a country in northern South America, with coasts on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Population: 40,349,000 (2001). Capital: Bogotá. officially Republic of Colombia Country, northwestern South America
a republic in northwestern South America; the major legal crop is coffee but cocaine is also a major export
Former South American republic (1822-30). Formerly the Viceroyalty of New Granada, it included roughly the modern nations of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Gran Colombia was formed in 1819 during the war for independence from Spain, with its capital at Bogotá. Revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar was its creator and first president. Gran Colombia had a vigorous existence during the war, becoming independent in 1822, but it was dissolved with the secession of Venezuela and Ecuador in 1830
a powerful and wealthy terrorist organization formed in 1957 as the guerilla arm of the Colombian communist party; opposed to the United States; has strong ties to drug traffikers
a terrorist organization in Colombia formed in 1997 as an umbrella for local and regional paramilitary groups; is financed by earnings from narcotics and serves to protect the economic interests of its members; "the AUC conducted over 800 assassinationsin one year