configuration

[ kuhn-fig-yuh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the relative disposition or arrangement of the parts or elements of a thing.
2. external form, as resulting from this; conformation.
3. Astronomy.
   1. the relative position or aspect of heavenly bodies.
   2. a group of stars.
4. Chemistry. an atomic spatial arrangement that is fixed by the chemical bonding in a molecule and that cannot be altered without breaking bonds ( conformation ).
5. Computers.
   1. the way a computer or computer system is put together; a specific set and arrangement of internal and external components, including hardware, software, and devices.
   2. the way a software program or device is set up for a particular computer, computer system, or task; the specific settings for a program or device:

      configuration of your email program to work with your new ISP.

configuration

/ kənˌfɪɡjʊˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the arrangement of the parts of something
2. the external form or outline achieved by such an arrangement
3. physics chem
   1. Also calledconformation the shape of a molecule as determined by the arrangement of its atoms
   2. the structure of an atom or molecule as determined by the arrangement of its electrons and nucleons
4. psychol the unit or pattern in perception studied by Gestalt psychologists
5. computing the particular choice of hardware items and their interconnection that make up a particular computer system

Derived Forms

• conˌfiguˈrationally, adverb
• conˌfiguˈrational, adjective

Other Words From

• con·figu·ration·al con·fig·u·ra·tive [k, uh, n-, fig, -yer-, uh, -tiv, -y, uh, -rey-tiv], adjective
• con·figu·ration·al·ly adverb
• precon·figu·ration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of configuration¹

1550–60; < Late Latin configūrātiōn- (stem of configūrātiō ), equivalent to Latin configūrāt ( us ) shaped like its model, past participle of configūrāre to mold, shape ( con- con- + figūr ( a ) figure + -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of configuration¹

C16: from Late Latin configūrātiō a similar formation, from configūrāre to model on something, from figūrāre to shape, fashion

Example Sentences

The paper, "Open-cycle thermochemical energy storage for building space heating: Practical system configurations and effective energy density," appears in the December issue of the journal Applied Energy.

From Science Daily

Beauty was the configuration of my mother’s deliberate care.

From Los Angeles Times

A study conducted in Mossel Bay, South Africa involved towing seal-shaped boards fitted with different configurations of lights behind a boat to see which attracted the most attention.

From BBC

But Pfeiffer points out that the coalitions have changed rather dramatically since 2016 and the strategies that worked with the older configurations may not make as much sense today.

From Salon

We don't even know anymore, what is the most common configuration for planetary systems in the universe?

From Salon

Related Words

• composition
• contour
• shape
• structure