Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🌲 Tall and narrow 💾 Data by columns
columnar

columnar

1 6.4
Tall and shaped like a pillar or arranged in vertical rows
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɑləmnər/
translation icon : columnar
  • Camp meeting was in a clearing, too, the columnar trees stirring in their invisible tops.
  • columnar cells
  • columnar epithelium
  • columnar cacti

Is it a marvellous example of columnar basalt formation?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The architect designed a stunning building with columnar pillars that contrasted beautifully with the surrounding landscape.

  • The artist also parallels the columnar folds of Peace's drapery and the regular fluting of the columns behind her.

    Academic text (2004)

  • And then another view of the island part with this wonderful interaction of columnar and concrete architecture.

  • Goblet cells were largely scattered among columnar cells.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Is it a marvellous example of columnar basalt formation?

    Tom Bilyeu

  • The overwhelming majority of dresses from this period were made of the same solid-colored material, which accentuated their columnar silhouette.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Daniel Day-Lewis is a lanky six-two, now enlarged by a stove-pipe hat, an absurd columnar fixture.

    Blog text (11)

  • In the garden, there were several columnar trees that reached high into the sky, providing shade underneath their tall trunks.

  • The scientist studied the columnar formations of basalt at the volcanic site, which were the result of ancient lava flows.

Synonyms

columned
vscolumnar
1 4.6

Having tall pillars, often at the front of a building

emphasizes both single shapes and overall arrangement in vertical groups
colonnaded
vscolumnar
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A building or walkway that has a row of columns along its side

is broader applying also to single upright shapes not only repeated rows
columniform
vscolumnar
  • Specialized
9.9

Having the shape of a tall, upright pillar

also covers such shapes when they appear as repeated vertical elements
columnlike
vscolumnar
4.8

Shaped like a tall, narrow pillar

can mean the same but also refers to grouped vertical structures
pillar-shaped
vscolumnar
3.9

Having a long, round, upright shape like a post

focuses more broadly on shapes or on repeated vertical placement
pillared
vscolumnar
5.3

Having tall straight posts that support or decorate a building

covers shape or arranged vertical features rather than just presence of supports

Compounds

columnar cell
  • Specialized
8.0

A long thin cell shaped like a column that sometimes has tiny hairs

columnar epithelial cell
  • Specialized
7.4

A tall cell, longer than it is wide, that lines organs and tubes and often has tiny hairs

How Columnar

columnar
1 6.4
cylindrical
12 4.0

Surface Forms

columnar positive

Morphology

columnar = column (transparent) = column + ar

The adjective is directly formed from 'column' with a standard adjectival suffix '-ar' meaning 'having the shape or relation of a column', which is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Columnar comes from the Latin columna meaning 'pillar' and shares its root with the English word column. So something columnar is 'pillar-like', meaning tall, round, or arranged in vertical rows like pillars.