Final answer:
The upper part of a column just above the shaft and below the capital is known as the capital itself. Doric columns feature a plain capital and fluting on the shaft, while Ionic and Corinthian capitals are more decorative, with Ionic sporting scroll shapes and Corinthian adorned with leaf shapes. Entasis, a slight bulge, is notable in Doric columns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The upper part of a column just above the shaft and below the projecting part of the capital, when differentiated by a molding, groove, or the omission of fluting, is known as the capital. In the classical orders of architecture, the Doric order features a simple and unadorned capital with fluted column shafts that rest directly on the stylobate without a base. The entablature lies atop these columns, supporting the roof and including elements such as the frieze with triglyphs and metopes.
Unlike the Doric capital, the Iconic and Corinthian capitals are more ornate, with the Ionic having scroll shapes and the Corinthian having leaf shapes. Fluting is the vertical, indented lines or grooves that are commonly seen on columns and pilasters, which are shallow, flattened-out columns that are attached to the wall and serve a decorative function. In Doric architecture, the columns also exhibit entasis, a slight bulge, enhancing the visual effect of supporting the weight of the entablature.