column meaning and definition

COLUMN noun

Definition of column (noun)

1. a line of units following one after another
2. 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
   • synonyms: chromatography column
3. a vertical array of numbers or other information
   • "he added a column of numbers"
4. 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"
   • synonyms: pillar, tower
5. an article giving opinions or perspectives
   • synonyms: editorial, newspaper column
6. a vertical cylindrical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (such as a monument)
   • synonyms: pillar
7. (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure
   • synonyms: pillar
8. 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. any tubular or pillar-like supporting structure in the body