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water column

American  
[waw-ter kahl-uhm, waht-er] / ˈwɔ tər ˈkɑl əm, ˈwɑt ər /

noun

water columns plural
  1. a conceptual vertical section of water, covering the full depth of a body of water and used to explain differences in water pressure, chemical composition, and other properties.

  2. Textiles. a measure of water resistance.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Shortly after fertilization, the larvae become mobile and are capable of coordinated swimming as they disperse in the water column.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 2, 2024

The team opportunistically collected sediment samples and deep-sea animals from the water column in the San Pedro Basin near Dumpsite 2 to test for a wide range DDT-related compounds.

From Science Daily May 6, 2024

They swim or drift with the currents, seeking the right conditions to settle out of the water column and affix themselves to the seabed.

From Science Daily Mar. 13, 2024

These so-called microplastics are spread throughout the water column and have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough.

From National Geographic Feb. 21, 2024

Sigurd swung his axe at the water column, cleaving a piece off, and he grabbed at Anya as she scrambled by.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

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