The term 'arithmetic column' refers to a type of mathematical problem-solving technique that involves breaking down a problem into columns and then solving it one column at a time. The crossword solution for the term is 'TENS', which is an abbreviation for the word 'tensors'. Tensors are mathematical objects that can be used to describe linear relationships between vectors, scalars, and other geometric entities. They are often used in physics and engineering to describe physical phenomena.