Column vs. Beam

Columnnoun

(architecture) A solid upright structure designed usually to support a larger structure above it, such as a roof or horizontal beam, but sometimes for decoration.

Columnnoun

A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.

Columnnoun

A body of troops or army vehicles, usually strung out along a road.

Columnnoun

A body of text meant to be read line by line, especially in printed material that has multiple adjacent such on a single page.

Columnnoun

A unit of width, especially of advertisements, in a periodical, equivalent to the width of a usual column of text.

Columnnoun

(by extension) A recurring feature in a periodical, especially an opinion piece, especially by a single author or small rotating group of authors, or on a single theme.

Columnnoun

Something having similar vertical form or structure to the things mentioned above, such as a spinal column.

Columnnoun

(botany) The gynostemium

Columnnoun

(chemistry) An object used to separate the different components of a liquid or to purify chemical compounds.

Columnnoun

A kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order.

Columnnoun

Anything resembling, in form or position, a column in architecture; an upright body or mass; a shaft or obelisk; as, a column of air, of water, of mercury, etc.; the Column Vendôme; the spinal column.

Columnnoun

A body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; - contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy.

Columnnoun

A number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; - in distinction from "line", where they are side by side.

Columnnoun

A perpendicular set of lines, not extending across the page, and separated from other matter by a rule or blank space; as, a column in a newspaper.

Columnnoun

A perpendicular line of figures.

Columnnoun

The body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids.

Columnnoun

one of a series of articles written in a periodical, usually under the same title and at regular intervals; it may be written and signed by one or more authors, or may appear pseudonymously or anonymously, as an editorial column.

Columnnoun

a line of (usually military) units following one after another

Columnnoun

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

Columnnoun

a linear array of numbers one above another

Columnnoun

anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower;

Columnnoun

an article giving opinions or perspectives

Columnnoun

a vertical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (as a monument or a column of air)

Columnnoun

(architeture) a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure

Column

A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member.

Beamnoun

Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.

Beamnoun

One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid — supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.

Beamnoun

(nautical) The maximum width of a vessel.

Beamnoun

The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

Beamnoun

The principal stem of the antler of a deer.

Beamnoun

(literary) The pole of a carriage or chariot.

Beamnoun

(textiles) A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving and the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven.

Beamnoun

The straight part or shank of an anchor.

Beamnoun

The central bar of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.

Beamnoun

In steam engines, a heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft.

Beamnoun

A ray or collection of approximately parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body.

Beamnoun

(figuratively) A ray; a gleam.

Beamnoun

One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk.

Beamnoun

(music) A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.

Beamnoun

(railway) An elevated rectangular dirt pile used to cheaply build an elevated portion of a railway.

Beamverb

(ambitransitive) To emit beams of light; shine; radiate.

Beamverb

To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.

Beamverb

(transitive) To furnish or supply with beams

Beamverb

(transitive) To give the appearance of beams to.

Beamverb

To transmit matter or information via a high-tech wireless mechanism.

Beamverb

To stretch something (for example an animal hide) on a beam.

Beamverb

To put (something) on a beam

Beamverb

To connect (musical notes) with a beam, or thick line, in music notation.

Beamnoun

Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.

Beamnoun

One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.

Beamnoun

The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another.

Beamnoun

The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.

Beamnoun

The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears the antlers, or branches.

Beamnoun

The pole of a carriage.

Beamnoun

A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the back beam.

Beamnoun

The straight part or shank of an anchor.

Beamnoun

The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.

Beamnoun

A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; - called also working beam or walking beam.

Beamnoun

A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.

Beamnoun

A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.

Beamnoun

One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; - called also beam feather.

Beamverb

To send forth; to emit; - followed ordinarily by forth; as, to beam forth light.

Beamverb

To emit beams of light.

Beamnoun

a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides pilots in darkness or bad weather

Beamnoun

long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction

Beamnoun

a column of light (as from a beacon)

Beamnoun

a group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation

Beamnoun

(nautical) breadth amidships

Beamnoun

a gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts

Beamverb

smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression

Beamverb

emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light;

Beamverb

express with a beaming face or smile;

Beamverb

broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;

Beamverb

especially of the complexion: show a strong bright color, such as red or pink;

Beamverb

experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;

Beamnoun

a long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used to support the roof or floor of a building

Beamnoun

a narrow, raised horizontal piece of squared timber on which a gymnast balances while performing exercises

Beamnoun

a horizontal piece of squared timber or metal supporting the deck and joining the sides of a ship

Beamnoun

the direction of an object visible from the port or starboard side of a ship when it is perpendicular to the centre line of the vessel

Beamnoun

a ship's breadth at its widest point

Beamnoun

the width of a person's hips

Beamnoun

the main stem of a stag's antler

Beamnoun

the crossbar of a balance.

Beamnoun

an oscillating shaft which transmits the vertical piston movement of a beam engine to the crank or pump.

Beamnoun

the shank of an anchor.

Beamnoun

the main timber of a horse-drawn plough.

Beamnoun

a ray or shaft of light

Beamnoun

a directional flow of particles or radiation

Beamnoun

a series of radio or radar signals emitted as a navigational guide for ships or aircraft

Beamnoun

a radiant or good-natured look or smile

Beamverb

transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction

Beamverb

(in science fiction) transport someone instantaneously to or from a spaceship

Beamverb

(of a light or light source) shine brightly

Beamverb

smile radiantly

Beamverb

express (an emotion) with a radiant smile