column

noun

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

Other Words from column Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about column

Keep scrolling for more

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

Follow him on Twitter: @KennethLFisher The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. — Ken Fisher, USA TODAY, "3 reasons real estate is a lousy retirement investment: location, location, location," 9 June 2019 Draymond Green will leave his mark in multiple columns of the box score. — Matt Schneidman, The Mercury News, "Unpredictability of Warriors’ centers might be cause for concern," 5 June 2019 The orange flames and column of grey and black smoke belching into the pale Parisian sky at dusk augured some new, inevitably lesser era—the near-death of one of the most iconic buildings of western civilization. — Klara Glowczewska, Town & Country, "Notre Dame Cathedral Will Never Be the Same—and That's Ok," 19 Apr. 2019 Alongside stylist Karla Welch, Bieber reimagined the classic 501 with neon colors—a column of varsity-like letter patches spell out her name across one leg. — Cameron Bird, Vogue, "Denim in the Desert: Levi’s Celebrates Coachella With Hailey Bieber at Its Annual Pool Party," 15 Apr. 2019 The only surface sign of the power involved in this clash is the column of white, churning water behind the VLCC and each of the four heaving tugboats. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "America's New Energy Coast," 19 Mar. 2019 Across the street, one of the columns of a neighbor’s home was collapsed and debris from the plane was strewn throughout the street. — Amy Taxin, The Seattle Times, "Neighbors: Plane ‘sounded like a missile’ as it broke apart," 5 Feb. 2019 The brightest stars in the image, Beta Gruis and R Doradus, saturated an entire column of camera detector pixels on the satellite’s second and fourth cameras. — Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, "NASA unveils first images from TESS probe's alien planet hunting quest," 18 Sep. 2018 All are propelled through the water by columns of cilia which refract light, producing a shimmering rainbow to rival any fireworks display. — National Geographic, "Living Fireworks, These Animals Produce Light Shows with Their Bodies," 30 June 2018

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about column

Dictionary Entries near column

Statistics for column

Last Updated

13 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for column

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

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

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