an officer holding commissioned rank immediately junior to a colonel in certain armies, air forces, and marine corps
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
lieuten′ant colo′nel, [U.S. Mil.]
- Militarya commissioned officer ranking next below a colonel and next above a major.
- 1590–1600
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'lieutenant colonel' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Lieut. Col.
- Lt. Col.
- Nissen hut
- chicken colonel
- colonel
- field officer
- light colonel
- major
- wing commander