column

noun

col·umn ˈkä-ləm

also ˈkäl-yəm

Synonyms of column next

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

columns of numbers

: 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.

: an accumulation arranged vertically : stack

columns of paint cans

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

the gossip column

advice columns

: a supporting pillar

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

a colonnade of marble columns

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

a column of water

columns of smoke

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

: a long row (as of soldiers)

columns of troops

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

: a statistical category or grouping

put another game in the win column

columned

ˈkä-ləmd

ˈkäl-yəmd

adjective

Example Sentences

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 Someone San Diego Should Know is a column written by members of the U-T’s Community Advisory Board about local people who are interesting and noteworthy because of their experiences, achievements, creativity or credentials. —

San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2023 Saving You Money is cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer’s column about saving money. —

Sean Mcdonnell, cleveland, 2 Feb. 2023 This is not going to be a very popular column among UCF football fans who are rightfully giddy about the release of the Knights’ inaugural Big 12 schedule earlier this week. —

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2023 An OpenAI spokesman, Niko Felix, declined to comment for this column, and the company also declined to make any employees available for interviews. —

Kevin Roose, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2023 Homewood on the road on Monday with all 10 Hoover players getting into the scoring column. —

al, 3 Feb. 2023 To submit a question for a future column, fill out this form. —

Brett Williams, Men's Health, 3 Feb. 2023 Almost immediately, the control column began shaking violently, a warning that the plane gives when it’s at risk of stalling. —

James Ross Gardner, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2023 For more on the future of travel, click here, and keep an eye out for this column each month, the next publishing February 28. —

Jd Shadel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2023 See More

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.

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Column.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/column. Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

column

noun

col·umn ˈkäl-əm

: a printed or written vertical arrangement of items

add together the column of numbers

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

: a special regular feature in a newspaper or magazine

a sports column

: a supporting pillar

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

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

a column of water

: a long row (as of soldiers)

columned adjective

Medical Definition

column

noun

col·umn ˈkäl-əm

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

: 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

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