Definitions for column
ˈkɒl əmcol·umn

Princeton's WordNet(2.74 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. column(noun)

   a line of units following one after another

2. column, chromatography column(noun)

   a vertical glass tube used in column chromatography; a mixture is poured in the top and washed through a stationary substance where components of the mixture are adsorbed selectively to form colored bands

3. column(noun)

   a vertical array of numbers or other information

   "he added a column of numbers"

4. column, tower, pillar(noun)

   anything that approximates the shape of a column or tower

   "the test tube held a column of white powder"; "a tower of dust rose above the horizon"; "a thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite"

5. column, editorial, newspaper column(noun)

   an article giving opinions or perspectives

6. column, pillar(noun)

   a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)

7. column, pillar(noun)

   (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure

8. column(noun)

   a page or text that is vertically divided

   "the newspaper devoted several columns to the subject"; "the bookkeeper used pages that were divided into columns"

9. column(noun)

   any tubular or pillar-like supporting structure in the body

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Column(n.)

   (Print.) one of a series of articles written in a periodical, usually under the same title and at regular intervals; it may be written and signed by one or more authors, or may appear pseudonymously or anonymously, as an editorial column.

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. column(Noun)

   A solid upright structure designed usually to support a larger structure above it, such as a roof or horizontal beam, but sometimes for decoration.

   Etymology: From columne, which from columna, originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen, o-grade form from a . Akin to collis, celsus, probably to κολοφών.

2. column(Noun)

   A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.

   Etymology: From columne, which from columna, originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen, o-grade form from a . Akin to collis, celsus, probably to κολοφών.

3. column(Noun)

   A body of troops or army vehicles, usually strung out along a road.

   Etymology: From columne, which from columna, originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen, o-grade form from a . Akin to collis, celsus, probably to κολοφών.

4. column(Noun)

   A body of text meant to be read line by line, especially in printed material that has multiple adjacent such on a single page.

   It was too hard to read the text across the whole page, so I split it into two columns.

   Etymology: From columne, which from columna, originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen, o-grade form from a . Akin to collis, celsus, probably to κολοφών.

5. column(Noun)

   A recurring feature in a periodical, especially an opinion piece, especially by a single author or small rotating group of authors, or on a single theme.

   His initial foray into print media was as the author of a weekly column in his elementary-school newspaper.

   Etymology: From columne, which from columna, originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen, o-grade form from a . Akin to collis, celsus, probably to κολοφών.

6. column(Noun)

   Something having similar vertical form or structure to the things mentioned above, such as a spinal column.

   Etymology: From columne, which from columna, originally a collateral form of columen, contraction culmen, o-grade form from a . Akin to collis, celsus, probably to κολοφών.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Column(noun)

   a kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

2. Column(noun)

   anything resembling, in form or position, a column in architecture; an upright body or mass; a shaft or obelisk; as, a column of air, of water, of mercury, etc.; the Column Vendome; the spinal column

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

3. Column(noun)

   a body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; -- contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

4. Column(noun)

   a small army

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

5. Column(noun)

   a number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; -- in distinction from "line", where they are side by side

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

6. Column(noun)

   a perpendicular set of lines, not extending across the page, and separated from other matter by a rule or blank space; as, a column in a newspaper

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

7. Column(noun)

   a perpendicular line of figures

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

8. Column(noun)

   the body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids

   Etymology: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Column

   Column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below, in other words a column is a compression member. The term column applies especially to a large round support with a capital and base and made of stone, or appearing to be so. A small wooden or metal support is typically called a post, and supports with a rectangular or other non-round section are usually called piers. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces. Other compression members are often termed "columns" because of the similar stress conditions. Columns are frequently used to support beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceilings rest. In architecture, "column" refers to such a structural element that also has certain proportional and decorative features. A column might also be a decorative element not needed for structural purposes; many columns are "engaged", that is to say form part of a wall.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Column

   kol′um, n. a long, round body, used to support or adorn a building: any upright body or mass like a column: a body of troops drawn up in deep files: a perpendicular row of lines in a book.—ns. Col′ūmel, a small column; Colūmel′la, the central axis of a spiral univalve; the auditory ossicle of the amphibian ear: the central axis of the spore-case of mosses: in the opening of fruits, what remains in the centre after the carpels have split away.—adjs. Colum′nal, Colum′nar, formed in columns.—n. Columna′rity.—adjs. Col′umned, Colum′niāted, Colum′nated, having columns.—n. Colum′niātion. [L. columen, columna, akin to celsus, high; Gr. kolōnē, a hill.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. column

   A body of troops in deep files and narrow front, so disposed as to move in regular succession.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. column

   Signifies, in military evolutions, a mass of soldiers several ranks in depth as opposed to line. There may be columns of brigades, of regiments, of divisions, or of companies, presenting a front of limited width, but a depth depending on the number of elements in the column. In a battalion the formation is called open column when the distance between the elements of the column is such as to admit of their wheeling into line; when the distance is only a few yards it is termed close column; when intermediate between these two, it is “column at half distance.” Battalions are drawn up in column with either the right or left in front, or the battalions may be doubled upon their centres. To pass from column into line is to “deploy”; to pass from line to column is to “ploy.” Sometimes the name column is given to a small army, especially when engaged in active operations. In drawing up troops for action, as a general rule, the French prefer the column, the Americans and English the formation in line.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. column

   A type of structure to support.

   The hotel has tall columns at the foyer of the hotel.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 28, 2020  

2. column

   A type of structure within a piece of software.

   The column of the spreadsheet was aligned with the rows.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 28, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'column' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3446

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'column' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4181

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'column' in Nouns Frequency: #1027

How to pronounce column?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say column in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of column in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of column in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of column in a Sentence

1. Juan Manuel:

   Annulling the legislative power with an arbitrary decision is unacceptable, this clearly destroys the most important column of any democracy: representation of the people.

2. Dave Berry:

   I will probably put a check in Trump's column (in the general election).

3. Steve Brantley:

   So far those explosions have not occurred, and I think the key here is that the vent system is an open one, therefore pressure is not being built or developed down at the top of the lava column.

4. Robertson Davies:

   He types his labored column -- weary drudge! Senile fudge and solemn: spare, editor, to condemn these dry leaves of his autumn.

5. Los Lagos:

   We are calling an emergency meeting to look at issues such as predicting the behavior of the column of smoke, in terms of climate factors, and what measures we will need to take.

Images & Illustrations of column

Popularity rank by frequency of use