columnar

adjective

co·​lum·​nar kə-ˈləm-nər 

1

: of, relating to, resembling, or characterized by columns

2

: of, relating to, being, or composed of tall narrow somewhat cylindrical or prismatic epithelial cells

Examples of columnar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ginkgo trees are slow-growing, but there are several new varieties that are compact or columnar. —Sheila Yount, arkansasonline.com, 18 Oct. 2024

This set of stairs starts at the waterfront and takes you up to Coit Tower, a columnar concrete landmark of San Francisco's skyline. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2023

They are also decidedly columnar. —Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, 27 Aug. 2020

The two other introductory items are large, columnar clay sculptures. —Holland Cotter, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2023

Part of a Columbia River Basalt flow in central Oregon showing columnar jointing formed during cooling. —Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 22 June 2018

Consider instead a sleek columnar silhouette, said Ms. Skoda—a look that can be structured or more fluid. —Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022

Among the available cultivars are Jade Butterfly ginkgo, a dwarf variety that grows just 12 to 15 feet high; Princeton Sentry ginkgo, a narrow, nearly columnar tree that tapers to a point; and Autumn Gold ginkgo, which has excellent fall color. —Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 27 Sep. 2020

The trek features some breathtaking views of the crumbling volcanic cliffs above Munson Creek and Annie Creek Canyon’s distinct, columnar formations. —Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 15 Jan. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

columnar

adjective

co·​lum·​nar kə-ˈləm-nər 

1

: of, relating to, or being columns

2

: of, relating to, being, or composed of somewhat cylinder-shaped or prism-shaped epithelial cells

Medical Definition

columnar

adjective

co·​lum·​nar kə-ˈləm-nər 

: of, relating to, being, or composed of tall narrow somewhat cylindrical or prismatic epithelial cells

Barrett's esophagus is the condition in which a metaplastic columnar epithelium replaces the squamous epithelium that normally lines the distal esophagus.

—Stuart Jon Spechler, Scientific American Medicine Bulletin

When the development of the teeth is about to commence, the mouth cavity is lined by an epithelium which consists of a layer of low columnar cells.

—James Henderson Scott et al., Introduction to Dental Anatomy