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

Other Word Forms

• architectural adjective
• architecturally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of architecture¹

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

Example Sentences

Had he never designed a single building, he would still be remembered as one of the great historians of American architecture.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Chicago-based architecture professor stashes vegetable scraps and leftover meat bones in plastic bags in her freezer.

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The only clue from the excavation team is that Ness is "a site that can be seen to be defined by straight lines and rectangular forms, from the architecture down to the art".

Read more on BBC

Hostile architecture and novel ways of trying to disperse homeless people have become somewhat common in L.A. in recent years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A 2020 Harris Poll found 72% prefer traditional architecture for federal buildings, with bipartisan majorities of blacks, Hispanics and whites preferring traditional styles.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• building 
• construction 
• engineering 
• planning