1an upright pillar, typically cylindrical, supporting an arch, entablature, or other structure or standing alone as a monument:a wide entrance portico of eight Ionic columnsthe pulpit is hexagonal and stands on seven columns
a vertical, roughly cylindrical thing:a great column of smoke
an upright shaft for controlling a machine or vehicle:a Spitfire control column
2a vertical division of a page or text:turn to page five, column sevendetail your expenses in the left-hand column
a vertical arrangement of figures or other information:list your strengths and weaknesses in two columnsthe typical business report consists of columns and rows of numeric information
a regular section of a newspaper or magazine devoted to a particular subject or written by a particular person:he has a weekly column in a Sydney newspaperI’ve been reading your column for five years
3one or more lines of people or vehicles moving in the same direction:a column of tanks moved north-westwe walked in a column
Military a narrow-fronted deep formation of troops in successive lines:a column of 300 to 400 troops
a military force or convoy of ships:Moran had commanded a column in the warhe organized his column for the coming march
