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

Both markets have their own parking structures and there are other parking lots around them, charging about $10 to $12, depending on the day.

From Los Angeles Times

"The wind field of a tropical cyclone contains the information of the storm's intensity, structure, and potential impact on coastal regions," said Li.

From Science Daily

The new method can also be utilized for observing and preserving 3D biological structures that are typically difficult to study in soil, opening new opportunities for research in plant and fungal biology.

From Science Daily

Desert beetles and lizards, for example, have evolved to develop surface structures that have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas and effectively capture moisture from the air.

From Science Daily

The separation, which will likely close in about a year, has already prompted a new management structure for NBCUniversal.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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