Column vs. Post: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A column is a vertical structural element, often decorative, supporting a building, while a post is a vertical support, typically more functional and less ornate.
Key Differences
Columns are integral architectural elements, often decorative, used to support ceilings or arches. Posts are vertical supports, primarily functional, used in construction for structural stability.
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Nov 17, 2023
Columns have been historically significant in architecture, with styles like Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Posts, while practical, lack the historical and aesthetic design variations seen in columns.
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Columns are typically made from stone, concrete, or metal, and are often ornate. Posts can be made from wood, metal, or concrete, and are usually simpler in design.
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Columns are used in buildings, monuments, and temples, adding both support and beauty. Posts are found in various structures, from buildings to fences, focusing on utility.
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Columns often symbolize strength and stability and can be commemorative or decorative. Posts are less symbolic and are more about practicality and basic support.
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Comparison Chart
Architectural Role
Supportive and decorative element in buildings
Functional vertical support in structures
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Design and Aesthetics
Often ornate with historical styles
Typically simpler and more utilitarian
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Materials
Stone, concrete, metal, with ornate designs
Wood, metal, concrete, simpler design
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Usage
In buildings, monuments, temples for support and decor
In buildings, fences, and utility structures for support
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Symbolic Value
Symbolizes strength, stability, can be commemorative
Less symbolic, more focused on practicality
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Column and Post Definitions
Column
A vertical pillar in architecture, often decorative and supporting a structure.
Columns lined the grand entrance of the building.
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Post
A sturdy vertical support that holds up a structure.
The wooden post was essential for the deck's stability.
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Column
A structural feature that can be load-bearing or purely decorative.
The central hall was supported by four large columns.
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Post
A long, vertical support used in construction.
We installed steel posts to support the new roof.
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Column
A vertical structure usually consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft, and a capital, used as a support or standing alone as a monument.
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Post
A vertical timber, metal, or concrete piece used in building frameworks.
Concrete posts were erected to support the highway overpass.
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Post
A long piece of wood or other material set upright into the ground to serve as a marker or support.
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Column
Something resembling an architectural column in form or function
A column of mercury in a thermometer.
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Column
One of two or more vertical sections of text lying side by side in a document and separated by a rule or a blank space.
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Column
A feature article that appears regularly in a publication, such as a newspaper.
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Column
A formation, as of troops or vehicles, in which all elements follow one behind the other.
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Post
The slender barlike part of a stud earring that passes through the ear and is secured at the back with a small cap or clip.
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Column
(Botany)A columnlike structure, especially one formed by the union of a stamen and the style in an orchid flower, or one formed by the united staminal filaments in flowers such as those of the hibiscus or mallow.
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Post
An electronic message sent to and displayed on an online forum
Ignored several inflammatory posts.
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Column
(Anatomy)Any of various tubular or pillarlike supporting structures in the body, each generally having a single tissue origin and function
The vertebral column.
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Column
(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.
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Column
A vertical line of entries in a table, usually read from top to bottom.
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Post
Either of two bugle calls in the British Army, sounded in the evening as a signal to retire to quarters.
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Column
A body of text meant to be read line by line, especially in printed material that has multiple adjacent such on a single page.
It was too hard to read the text across the whole page, so I split it into two columns.
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Column
A unit of width, especially of advertisements, in a periodical, equivalent to the width of a usual column of text.
Each column inch costs $300 a week; this ad is four columns by three inches, so will run $3600 a week.
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Post
(Basketball) A position usually taken by the center close to the basket or below the foul line, serving as the focus of the team's offense.
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Column
(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.
His initial foray into print media was as the author of a weekly column in his elementary-school newspaper.
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Column
Something having similar vertical form or structure to the things mentioned above, such as a spinal column.
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Column
(chemistry) An object used to separate the different components of a liquid or to purify chemical compounds.
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Column
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.
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Column
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.
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Column
A body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; - contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy.
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Post
One of a series of relay stations along a fixed route, furnishing fresh riders and horses for the delivery of mail on horseback.
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Column
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.
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Column
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.
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Column
The body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids.
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Column
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.
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Post
(Computers) To make (an electronic message) available by sending it to an online forum
Posted a response to a question about car engines.
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Column
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
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Column
Anything tall and thin approximating the shape of a column or tower;
The test tube held a column of white powder
A tower of dust rose above the horizon
A thin pillar of smoke betrayed their campsite
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Column
A vertical structure standing alone and not supporting anything (as a monument or a column of air)
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Column
(architeture) a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure
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Column
A structural element that supports the weight above it, typically part of a building.
The ancient Greek temple had marble columns.
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Column
A cylindrical support, usually with a base and capital, used in classical architecture.
The Corinthian columns added elegance to the courthouse.
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Column
A pillar used to support an arch, entablature, or other structure.
The bridge was supported by reinforced concrete columns.
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Post
(Computers) To enter (a unit of information) on a record or into a section of storage.
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Post
To bob up and down in the saddle in rhythm with a horse's trotting gait.
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Post
A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground; a fencepost; a lightpost.
Ram a post into the ground
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Post
(dentistry) A long, narrow piece inserted into a root canal to provide retention for a crown.
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Post
(obsolete) The doorpost of a victualler's shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt.
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Post
(obsolete) Each of a series of men stationed at specific places along a postroad, with responsibility for relaying letters and dispatches of the monarch (and later others) along the route.
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Post
(dated) A station, or one of a series of stations, established for the refreshment and accommodation of travellers on some recognized route.
A stage or railway post
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Post
A military base; the place at which a soldier or a body of troops is stationed; also, the troops at such a station.
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Post
Someone who travels express along a set route carrying letters and dispatches; a courier.
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Post
An organisation for delivering letters, parcels etc., or the service provided by such an organisation.
Sent via post; parcel post
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Post
A single delivery of letters; the letters or deliveries that make up a single batch delivered to one person or one address.
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Post
A message posted in an electronic or Internet forum, or on a blog, etc.
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Post
(American football) A moderate to deep passing route in which a receiver runs 10-20 yards from the line of scrimmage straight down the field, then cuts toward the middle of the field (towards the facing goalposts) at a 45-degree angle.
Two of the receivers ran post patterns.
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Post
(obsolete) One who has charge of a station, especially a postal station.
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Post
(transitive) To hang (a notice) in a conspicuous manner for general review.
Post no bills.
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Post
To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation.
To post someone for cowardice
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Post
To inform; to give the news to; to make acquainted with the details of a subject; often with up.
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Post
To pay (a blind).
Since Jim was new to the game, he had to post $4 in order to receive a hand.
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Post
To travel with relays of horses; to travel by post horses, originally as a courier.
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Post
To send (an item of mail etc.) through the postal service.
Mail items posted before 7.00pm within the Central Business District and before 5.00pm outside the Central Business District will be delivered the next working day.
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Post
(horse-riding) To rise and sink in the saddle, in accordance with the motion of the horse, especially in trotting.
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Post
(Internet) To publish (a message) to a newsgroup, forum, blog, etc.
I couldn't figure it out, so I posted a question on the mailing list.
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Post
To assign to a station; to set; to place.
Post a sentinel in front of the door.
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Post
With the post, on post-horses; by a relay of horses (changing at every staging-post); hence, express, with speed, quickly.
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Post
After; especially after a significant event that has long-term ramifications.
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Oct 19, 2023
Post
A piece of timber, metal, or other solid substance, fixed, or to be fixed, firmly in an upright position, especially when intended as a stay or support to something else; a pillar; as, a hitching post; a fence post; the posts of a house.
They shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses.
Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore,The gates of Azza, post and massy bar.
Unto his order he was a noble post.
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Oct 19, 2023
Post
The doorpost of a victualer's shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt.
When God sends coinI will discharge your post.
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Post
A messenger who goes from station; an express; especially, one who is employed by the government to carry letters and parcels regularly from one place to another; a letter carrier; a postman.
In certain places there be always fresh posts, to carry that further which is brought unto them by the other.
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines,Receiving them from such a worthless post.
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Post
An established conveyance for letters from one place or station to another; especially, the governmental system in any country for carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the post office; the mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported.
I send you the fair copy of the poem on dullness, which I should not care to hazard by the common post.
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Post
One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station.
He held office of postmaster, or, as it was then called, post, for several years.
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Post
A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, the post of duty; the post of danger.
The post of honor is a private station.
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Post
To attach to a post, a wall, or other usual place of affixing public notices; to placard; as, to post a notice; to post playbills.
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Post
To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation; as, to post one for cowardice.
On pain of being posted to your sorrowFail not, at four, to meet me.
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Post
To carry, as an account, from the journal to the ledger; as, to post an account; to transfer, as accounts, to the ledger.
You have not posted your books these ten years.
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Post
To inform; to give the news to; to make (one) acquainted with the details of a subject; - often with up.
Thoroughly posted up in the politics and literature of the day.
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Post
To travel with post horses; figuratively, to travel in haste.
And post o'er land and ocean without rest.
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Post
To rise and sink in the saddle, in accordance with the motion of the horse, esp. in trotting.
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Post
The position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand;
A soldier manned the entrance post
A sentry station
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Post
Military installation at which a body of troops is stationed;
This military post provides an important source of income for the town nearby
There is an officer's club on the post
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Post
An upright consisting of a piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position;
He set a row of posts in the ground and strung barbwire between them
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Post
United States aviator who in 1933 made the first solo flight around the world (1899-1935)
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Post
United States female author who wrote a book and a syndicated newspaper column on etiquette (1872-1960)
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Post
United States manufacturer of breakfast cereals and Postum (1854-1914)
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Post
Any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered;
Your mail is on the table
Is there any post for me?
She was opening her post
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Post
A pole or stake set up to mark something (as the start or end of a race track);
A pair of posts marked the goal
The corner of the lot was indicated by a stake
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Post
The system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office;
The mail handles billions of items every day
He works for the United States mail service
In England they call mail `the post'
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Post
The delivery and collection of letters and packages;
It came by the first post
If you hurry you'll catch the post
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Post
Publicize with, or as if with, a poster;
I'll post the news on the bulletin board
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Post
Assign to a post; put into a post;
The newspaper posted him in Timbuktu
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Post
Ride Western style and bob up and down in the saddle in in rhythm with a horse's trotting gait
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Post
Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
Send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
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Oct 19, 2023
Post
A basic building component, often used for utility purposes.
The fence was held up by a series of posts.
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Nov 17, 2023
Post
A structural element that provides support, often in a simple form.
Signs were attached to posts along the roadside.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are posts part of residential construction?
Yes, often in frameworks and decks.
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Can posts be decorative?
They're usually more functional, but can have decorative aspects.
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How are posts installed?
They're usually anchored into the ground or a foundation.
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Do columns have a cultural meaning?
Often, representing strength and stability.
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Do columns have a historical significance?
Yes, especially in classical architecture.
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Are posts used in modern architecture?
Yes, primarily for structural support.
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What is the primary function of a column?
To support and sometimes enhance aesthetics.
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How do posts contribute to building stability?
By bearing loads and providing framework support.
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Do columns come in different styles?
Yes, like Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
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Can columns be used indoors?
Yes, in both structural and decorative capacities.
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Can both columns and posts be used in gardens?
Yes, for different purposes like support or decoration.
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Nov 17, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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