column

noun

col·​umn ˈkä-ləm 

 also  ˈkäl-yəm

1

a

: a vertical arrangement of items printed or written on a page

columns of numbers

b

: one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page separated by a rule or blank space

The news article takes up three columns.

c

: an accumulation arranged vertically : stack

columns of paint cans

d

: one in a usually regular series of newspaper or magazine articles

the gossip column

advice columns

2

: a supporting pillar

especially : one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital, and a base

a colonnade of marble columns

3

a

: something resembling a column in form, position, or function

a column of water

columns of smoke

b

: a tube or cylinder in which a chromatographic separation takes place

4

: a long row (as of soldiers)

columns of troops

5

: one of the vertical lines of elements of a determinant or matrix

6

: a statistical category or grouping

put another game in the win column

columned

ˈkä-ləmd 

ˈkäl-yəmd

adjective

Illustration of column

• column 2

Synonyms

• cue
• file
• line
• queue
• range
• string
• train

Examples of column in a Sentence

a facade with marble columns

Add the first column of numbers.

The article takes up three columns.

The error appears at the bottom of the second column.

She writes a weekly column for the paper.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Camry careened into a brick column that is part of the gas station while the Focus struck a Buick Enclave that was stopped at the red light in the southbound lanes of 27th Street, according to the complaint. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024

The Monitor is a weekly column devoted to everything happening in the WIRED world of culture, from movies to memes, TV to Twitter. —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 26 Apr. 2024

Taking a brief break in our live mock night to write a column on tonight’s Panthers-Lightning playoff Game 3. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024

McDougal would get a monthly column in two different magazines, in addition to the $150,000, Pecker explained. – Aysha Bagchi Who is Stormy Daniels and what is her real name? —Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. —Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2024

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. —Kimberly Palmer Of Nerdwallet, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024

His wife took photos, wrote a column and affixed the mailing labels. —Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024

Some questions may turn into Meghan’s column for The Post. Stuck on what to ask? —Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English columne, from Anglo-French columpne, from Latin columna, from columen top; akin to Latin collis hill — more at hill

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing column

• advice column
• agony column
• fifth column
• lally column
• spinal column
• steering column
• the personal column
• vertebral column
• water column

Kids Definition

column

noun

col·​umn ˈkäl-əm 

1

a

: a printed or written vertical arrangement of items

add together the column of numbers

b

: one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page separated by a rule or blank space

c

: a special regular feature in a newspaper or magazine

a sports column

2

: a supporting pillar

especially : one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital, and a base

3

: something resembling a column in form, position, or function

a column of water

4

: a long row (as of soldiers)

columned adjective

Etymology

Middle English columne "column," from early French colompne (same meaning), from Latin columna "column" — related to colonel

Medical Definition

column

noun

col·​umn ˈkäl-əm 

: a longitudinal subdivision of the spinal cord that resembles a column or pillar: as

a

: any of the principal longitudinal subdivisions of gray matter or white matter in each lateral half of the spinal cord see dorsal horn, gray column, lateral column sense 1, ventral horn compare funiculus sense a

b

: any of a number of smaller bundles of spinal nerve fibers : fasciculus