■ noun
1》 an upright pillar supporting an arch or other structure or standing alone as a monument.
↘an upright shaft used for controlling a machine.
2》 a vertical division of a page or text.
↘a regular section of a newspaper or magazine on a particular subject or by a particular person.
3》 a line of people or vehicles moving in the same direction.
↘ Military a narrow-fronted deep formation of troops in successive lines.
Derivatives
~ar adjective
~ed adjective
Origin
ME: partly from OFr. columpne , reinforced by its source, L. ~a 'pillar'.