Columnares

Columnares is a term from Spanish used to describe things that are column-like or arranged in columns. It functions as an adjective and, when used as a noun, can refer to a feature or structure comprised of columns. In architectural contexts, columnares describes galleries, porticos, cloisters, or façades that feature a colonnade—rows of columns supporting arches or an entablature, creating a covered walkway or arcade.

In geology, columnares, or columnar structures, refer to columnar jointing formed as volcanic rocks cool and contract, producing approximately hexagonal to polygonal prisms. These formations, visible in landscapes such as basaltic lava flows, are typical of sites like the Giant's Causeway and other columnar basalts around the world.

In biology and medicine, the term appears in reference to columnar epithelium or columnar cells, tissues consisting of tall, elongated cells with their nuclei near the base. Such epithelia line areas like the intestinal tract, gallbladder, and parts of the respiratory tract, serving roles in absorption, secretion, and protection.

The usage of columnares may vary by region, and in English-language texts the corresponding terms are columnar, colonnade, or columnar epithelium. The term highlights the common feature of columns—linear, upright elements arranged in alignment.