col|umn

col|umn
col|umn «KOL uhm; see note below (Cf.A)», noun.
1. a) a slender, upright structure; pillar; post. Columns are usually made of stone, wood, or metal, and are used as supports or ornaments to a building. b) an upright support consisting essentially of a nearly cylindrical shaft with a base and capital. c) a similar structure, often of great size, erected alone as a monument: »

Trajan's column.

2. anything that seems slender and upright like a column: »

a column of mercury in a tube, the spinal column. Figurative. A column of smoke rose from the fire.

3. an arrangement of people, especially soldiers, in several short rows one behind another, used especially for marching.
4. a line of ships or aircraft, one behind another.
5. any similar line of persons or things: »

A long column of cars followed the procession down the street.

6. a) a narrow division of a page reading from top to bottom, kept separate by lines or by blank spaces. Some newspapers have eight columns on a page. b) a line or series of letters, figures, or other symbols arranged vertically: »

Add the column of figures.

7. a) a part of a newspaper or magazine used for a special subject or written by a special writer: »

a financial column, the sports column.

b) an article appearing in a column. Columns usually carry the name of the writer, and sometimes his or her picture.
8. Botany. an upright cylindrical structure formed by the union of the stamens with the style, as in orchids. Abbr: col.
[< Latin columna column, pillar, post]
Usage column. The pronunciation «KOL yuhm», although generally regarded as substandard, is not uncommon, especially in senses 7a and 7b and as a humorous usage.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • sem|i|col|umn — «SEHM ee KOL uhm», noun. the half of a column (taken lengthwise); an engaged column of which one half projects from the wall …   Useful english dictionary

  • umn — col·umn; …   English syllables

  • col — col·po·scope; col·po·stat; col·pot·o·my; col·ter; col·u·ber; col·u·bri·na; col·u·bri·nae; col·u·lus; col·um·ba·ceous; col·um·ba·ri·um; col·um·bary; col·um·batz; col·um·bel·la; col·um·bel·li·dae; col·um·bif·er·ous; col·u·mel·la; col·u·mel·lar;… …   English syllables

  • column — col·umn …   English syllables

  • column — col•umn art at combe [[t]ˈkɒl əm[/t]] n. 1) archit. a) a rigid, slender upright support composed of relatively few pieces b) a decorative pillar, often of stone, typically having a cylindrical or polygonal shaft with a capital and usu. a base 2)… …   From formal English to slang

  • column — col|umn W2S2 [ˈkɔləm US ˈka: ] n [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: colomne, from Latin columna, from columen top ] 1.) a tall solid upright stone post used to support a building or as a decoration 2.) a line of numbers or words written… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • columnist — col|umn|ist [ˈkɔləmıst, ləmnıst US ˈka: ] n someone who writes articles, especially about a particular subject, that appear regularly in a newspaper or magazine …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • column — col|umn [ kaləm ] noun count *** ▸ 1 tall thick post ▸ 2 something rising into the air ▸ 3 of writing/numbers ▸ 4 in newspaper/magazine ▸ 5 line of people/vehicles 1. ) a tall thick post used for supporting a roof or decorating a building: marble …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • column inch — col′umn inch′ n. pri type or space one column wide and 1 in. (2.54 cm) deep, used esp. in measuring printed advertisements • Etymology: 1935–40 …   From formal English to slang

  • column — 1. An anatomic part or structure in the form of a pillar or cylindric funiculus. SEE ALSO: fascicle. 2. A vertical object (usually cylindrical), mass, or formation. SYN: columna [TA]. [L. columna] …   Medical dictionary

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