column

noun

col·​umn ˈkä-ləm How to pronounce column (audio)
 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 How to pronounce column (audio)
ˈkäl-yəmd
adjective

Illustration of column

Illustration of column
  • column 2

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 Some questions may be adapted into full columns, and transcripts of the chats remain available after each session concludes. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Read his other columns Ann Picanza, another retiree, was in full agreement and happy to share her cost-cutting strategies, one of which is to take advantage of the daily free lunch at the senior center. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Her hair, an exuberant spill of eighties curls, makes a silhouette on the column behind her. Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024 Deficiencies were found in the building’s steel reinforcement placements, concrete alignment and strength of the columns and floor concrete, according to the presentation. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Because of design flaws, investigators say water from the deck constantly seeped into the garage area under the pool, helping corrode reinforcing steel in the support columns. Greg Allen, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 But with many of those voters having soured on both major-party candidates, Democrats fear that more votes would come out of Mr. Biden’s column than Mr. Trump’s. Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Hundreds of the columns, called soldier piles, have been installed already. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'column.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of column was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near column

Cite this Entry

“Column.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/column. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

column

noun
col·​umn ˈkäl-əm How to pronounce column (audio)
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 How to pronounce column (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on column

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