Definition of column
1a : a vertical arrangement of items printed or written on a page columns of numbersb : 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 cansd : 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
3a : something resembling a column in form, position, or function a column of water columns of smokeb : 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
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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 of column from the Web
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In the 1950s and 1960s, Bradley Group Showers marketed its water-saving column showers with posters of topless schoolboys happily soaping down together.
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When the mansion burned in 1935, Barker’s descendants had columns added to this building and lived there with his family.
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Through a special arrangement, Seattle Times readers can access Checkbook’s ratings of area moving companies for free through June 30 by visiting the website listed at the end of this column.
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This column lists high-level promotions of senior executives at the director level and above who are based in South Florida.
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Jena McGregor writes a column analyzing leadership in the news for the Washington Post.
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SPORTS The On Horse Racing column on Monday, about the trainer Chad Brown, whose horse Cloud Computing won the Preakness Stakes, misstated the name of his hometown.
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The On Horse Racing column on Monday, about the trainer Chad Brown, whose horse Cloud Computing won the Preakness Stakes, misstated the name of his hometown.
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Judith Martin writes the Miss Manners column with help from her son, Nicholas Ivor Martin, and her daughter, Jacobina Martin.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'column'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of column
Origin and Etymology of column
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
COLUMN Defined for English Language Learners
column
playDefinition of column for English Language Learners
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: a long post made of steel, stone, etc., that is used as a support in a building
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: a group of printed or written items (such as numbers or words) shown one under the other down a page
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: any one of two or more sections of print that appear next to each other on a page and are separated by a blank space or a line
COLUMN Defined for Kids
column
playDefinition of column for Students
1 : one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page Read the article in the left column.
2 : a group of items shown one under the other down a page a column of figures
3 : a regular feature in a newspaper or magazine a sports column
4 : a pillar used to support a building
5 : something that is tall or thin in shape or arrangement a column of smoke
6 : a long straight row a column of soldiers
Medical Dictionary
column
playMedical Definition of column
: a longitudinal subdivision of the spinal cord that resembles a column or pillar: asa: 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 1, ventral horn; compare funiculus ab: any of a number of smaller bundles of spinal nerve fibers : fasciculus
Learn More about column
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See words that rhyme with column Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for column Spanish Central: Translation of column Nglish: Translation of column for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of column for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about column
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