sarake

Sarake is a Finnish noun with several related meanings centered on a vertical or supporting element. The most common sense in everyday and technical usage is a vertical division in a two-dimensional arrangement such as a table, chart, spreadsheet, or matrix. In this sense, a column is referred to as a sarake, while a horizontal line is called a rivi.

In mathematical and computational contexts, a sarake denotes a column of numbers or data within a matrix. Each sarake runs from top to bottom and, together with rows (oriv), forms the grid of the matrix. In databases and spreadsheets, a sarake represents data of a single attribute across multiple records or entries, often labeled by a column header and associated with a specific data type. Operations such as sorting, filtering, and applying formulas frequently manipulate entire sarakke.

In architecture and construction, sarake means a column or pillar that supports loads and carries structural forces from beams and slabs to foundations. Columns can be cylindrical, rectangular, or of other shapes, and are made from materials such as concrete, steel, or wood. They may be functional elements of a building’s framework or decorative features in classical or ornamental designs.

The term can also appear in broader contexts as a metaphor for a component, element, or link within a larger system, organization, or sequence. In Finnish, sarake is distinct from rivi, which refers to a horizontal row, highlighting the orientation-based terminology used in grids and structures.