architecture

[ ahr-ki-tek-cher ]

noun

1. the profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design or selection of furnishings and decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings.
2. the character or style of building:

   the architecture of Paris; Romanesque architecture.

3. the action or process of building; construction.
4. the result or product of architectural work, as a building.
5. buildings collectively.
6. Computers. a fundamental underlying design of computer hardware, software, or both.
7. the structure of anything:

   the architecture of a novel.

architecture

/ ˈɑːkɪˌtɛktʃə /

noun

1. the art and science of designing and superintending the erection of buildings and similar structures
2. a style of building or structure

   Gothic architecture

3. buildings or structures collectively
4. the structure or design of anything

   the architecture of the universe

5. the internal organization of a computer's components with particular reference to the way in which data is transmitted
6. the arrangement of the various devices in a complete computer system or network

Derived Forms

• ˌarchiˈtectural, adjective
• ˌarchiˈtecturally, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of architecture¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Middle French, from Latin architectūra; architect, -ure

Example Sentences

No, say Diane Hoskins and Andy Cohen, co-CEOs of Gensler, the world’s largest architecture firm.

From Fortune

Yes, Google still has BERT, which shares similar architecture with GPT-3.

From Search Engine Watch

This is due in large part to the maddening architecture of the system.

From Ozy

You’ll want to start this process by building out a content map to define the information architecture.

From Search Engine Watch

The “transformer” part refers to a neural network architecture introduced by Google in 2017.

From Singularity Hub 

“It fundamentally changes the architecture of forest canopies,” says Watson.

From The Daily Beast

He completely disrupts not only the conception of architecture—but also the fabrication, the mise en oeuvre of architecture.

From The Daily Beast

Nothing illustrates this more tangibly than his relentless campaign against modern architecture.

From The Daily Beast

The introduction of AIMS in the 777 changed the architecture of the avionics on Boeing airliners.

From The Daily Beast

Compared to the architecture of other prominent Pritzker winners, these works are of an almost foreign category.

From The Daily Beast

In the foreground was a large house of two stories and no architecture whatever, although the roof was mercifully flat.

From Project Gutenberg

The mountains are covered with wood fit for fuel, mining, architecture, and machinery.

From Project Gutenberg

Built of red sandstone, rich with sculptures and of graceful and harmonious architecture, there are few cathedrals more pleasing.

From Project Gutenberg

Hampshire cottage architecture is peculiarly characteristic of the county.

From Project Gutenberg

A single pagoda, five stories high, reminded us of the peculiar character of Chinese architecture.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• building
• construction
• engineering
• planning