Dictionary
column
noun col·umn \ˈkä-ləm also ˈkäl-yəm\
: 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
Full Definition of COLUMN
1
a : a vertical arrangement of items printed or written on a page b : one of two or more vertical sections of a printed page separated by a rule or blank space c : an accumulation arranged vertically : stack d : one in a usually regular series of newspaper or magazine articles <gossip column>
2
: a supporting pillar; especially : one consisting of a usually round shaft, a capital, and a base
3
a : something resembling a column in form, position, or function <a column of water> b : a tube or cylinder in which a chromatographic separation takes place
4
: a long row (as of soldiers)
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>
— col·umned \-ləmd, -yəmd\ adjective
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Origin of COLUMN
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
Other Architecture Terms
COLUMN Defined for Kids
column
noun col·umn \ˈkä-ləm\
Definition of COLUMN for Kids
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>
Medical Dictionary
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 1, ventral horn; compare funiculus a b : any of a number of smaller bundles of spinal nerve fibers : fasciculus
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