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. The term column applies especially to a large round support with a capital and a base or pedestal, which is made of stone, or appearing to be so.

A small wooden or metal support is typically called a post.
Supports with a rectangular or other non-round section are usually called piers.
Throughout architectural history, especially in Classical and Rennaisance styles, the column has been central to building design.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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