Cŏl'ū-mĕl'lă, n.

n. [Lat., diminutive of columen, columna, column, q. v.] 1. (Bot.) (a.) An axis to which a carpel of a compound pistil may be attached, as in the case of the geranium; or which is left when a pod opens. (b.) The stem in mosses, which is the axis of the capsule. Gray. 2. (Conch.) The upright pillar in the center of most of the univalve shells. Humble.