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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:

Some coral species with fast-growing branches are planted onto "coral trees" that look like old television antennas and are suspended in the water column, with floats to keep them upright.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

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

“You just can’t see anything that’s moving through the water column at all. The exact moment of the incident was really the only interaction with, or sighting of, the shark.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

"Along with nutrients, mussels also filter contaminants present in the water column, like metals, microplastics, synthetic chemical compounds and other emerging contaminants of concern," Pankratz said.

From Science Daily ● May 31, 2024

His foot hooked on something in the air and he hopped again, bounding up an invisible set of steps as Ivan’s water column thundered through where he had just stood.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

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