structure

[ struhk-cher ]

noun

1. mode of building, construction, or organization; arrangement of parts, elements, or constituents:

   a pyramidal structure.

   Synonyms: configuration, form, system

2. something built or constructed, as a building, bridge, or dam.
3. a complex system considered from the point of view of the whole rather than of any single part:

   the structure of modern science.

4. anything composed of parts arranged together in some way; an organization.
5. the relationship or organization of the component parts of a work of art or literature:

   the structure of a poem.

6. Biology. mode of organization; construction and arrangement of tissues, parts, or organs.
7. Geology.
   1. the attitude of a bed or stratum or of beds or strata of sedimentary rocks, as indicated by the dip and strike.
   2. the coarser composition of a rock, as contrasted with its texture.
8. Chemistry. the manner in which atoms in a molecule are joined to each other, especially in organic chemistry where molecular arrangement is represented by a diagram or model.
9. Sociology. social structure.
10. the pattern of organization of a language as a whole or of arrangements of linguistic units, as phonemes, morphemes or tagmemes, within larger units.

verb (used with object)

, struc·tured, struc·tur·ing.

1. to give a structure, organization, or arrangement to; construct or build a systematic framework for:

   to structure a curriculum so well that a novice teacher can use it.

structure

/ ˈstrʌktʃə /

noun

1. a complex construction or entity
2. the arrangement and interrelationship of parts in a construction, such as a building
3. the manner of construction or organization

   the structure of society

4. biology morphology; form
5. chem the arrangement of atoms in a molecule of a chemical compound

   the structure of benzene

6. geology the way in which a mineral, rock, rock mass or stratum, etc, is made up of its component parts
7. rare.
   the act of constructing

verb

1. tr to impart a structure to

Other Words From

• de·structure verb (used with object) destructured destructuring
• inter·structure noun
• non·structure noun
• pre·structure verb (used with object) prestructured prestructuring

Word History and Origins

Origin of structure¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin structūra, equivalent to struct(us) (past participle of struere “to put together”) + -ūra noun suffix; -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of structure¹

C15: from Latin structūra, from struere to build

Synonym Study

See building.

Example Sentences

“Other studies I’ve done have found that the most important factor that explains why a structure is destroyed in a fire is the location of the house.”

From Los Angeles Times

Hoover quickly created a new management structure and gathered a core of officers experienced in various aspects of supply.

From Los Angeles Times

But Hegseth, with his heavily gelled hair and impressive bone structure, looks a lot like a movie star of Trump's 1950s childhood.

From Salon

She said the course was sometimes disorganised, and lacked structure.

From BBC

In 2023 Filion tried to turn the hoax calls into a business and made posts on social media, advertising his services and swatting-for-a-fee structure.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• architecture
• arrangement
• complex
• construction
• design
• format
• formation
• framework
• network
• organization
• system