column

col·umn | \ ˈkä-ləm

also ˈkäl-yəm \

Definition of column

1a : 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

3a : 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

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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 on the Web Under current designs for San Pedro Creek Culture Park, this outdoor plaza just south of Houston Street, behind the Alameda Theater, will face the massive water wall feature that will be built to the right, where the columns are. — Scott Huddleston, ExpressNews.com, "Discovery adds intrigue, challenge to San Pedro Creek park project in downtown San Antonio," 22 May 2020 DeWine has been both praised and criticized in this column. — Jason Williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX column: In appreciation of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's thick skin," 21 May 2020 The main instrument display is fixed to the steering column, so if the wheel rim obscures part of the display for you, changing the angle or reach of the wheel probably won't solve that. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "The electric 2020 Mini Cooper SE: Big driving fun, little driving range," 20 May 2020 Mike is having trouble with addition and carrying the one over to the next column. — Mel Fronczek, The Indianapolis Star, "This nurse sleeps in a donated RV 25 feet from her family. Her boy just wants a hug.," 19 May 2020 Matthew Glowicki’s Reader's Watchdog column helps readers get answers and holds public officials, businesses and individuals to account. — Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky working to expand number of unemployment employees who can tackle complex problems," 18 May 2020 In March, China expelled American journalists from three U.S. newspapers following the publication of an opinion column that China denounced as racist. — NBC News, "India's fuel demand nearly halves in April amid lockdown," 9 May 2020 A day later, China’s government revoked the press credentials of three news reporters based for the Journal in Beijing, linking the expulsion to a headline on an opinion column in The Wall Street Journal. — Shan Li, WSJ, "China Calls U.S. Restrictions on News Agencies ‘Political Oppression’," 3 Mar. 2020 In addition to his career at The Times, Havemann served for many years as personal editor for Robert Samuelson, who writes an economics column for the Washington Post. — Dick Cooper, Los Angeles Times, "Joel Havemann, longtime Times editor in Washington, dies at 76," 11 May 2020

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.

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Last Updated

29 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Column.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/column. Accessed 1 Jun. 2020.

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More Definitions for column

column

noun

English Language Learners Definition of column

: a long post made of steel, stone, etc., that is used as a support in a building

: a group of printed or written items (such as numbers or words) shown one under the other down a page

: 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

See the full definition for column in the English Language Learners Dictionary

column

noun

col·umn | \ ˈkä-ləm

Kids Definition of column

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

column

noun

col·umn | \ ˈkäl-əm

Medical Definition of column

: 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

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