configuration

American  

[kuhn-fig-yuh-rey-shuhn] / kənˌfɪg jəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

• configurations
  plural

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 (contrasted with 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.

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configuration British  

/ 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 called: conformation.  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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preconfiguration
  noun
• configurational
  adjective
• configurative
  adjective
• configurationally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• configurations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of configuration

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

Explanation

When you position items into any spatial arrangement, you are creating a configuration, or specific shape. For example, scientists refer to the specific, bonded arrangement of atoms to make a molecule as a configuration. The root of configuration presents pretty much the current meaning, with the Latin configūrāre meaning "to mold or shape." You can see the word figure in the middle, which presents the idea of a physical form that's being shaped. As an example: the specific configuration, or arrangement, of the genes in your DNA is what makes you the unique individual that you are.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

configuration configurations

Skytraders deputy chief executive Duncan Mackay told the Australian newspaper the plane had undergone a complete refit into a specialised medevac configuration within 24 hours of the call.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

But the payoff is substantial: With 15,000 to 20,000 seats depending on the configuration, a single night can gross up to $3 million in ticket sales.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

They will also examine the movement and behavior of each combined Orion and lander configuration in space.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

Instead, the company will move to a new pad configuration that should help it launch more rockets faster.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

The answer, they reasoned, must be found in some configuration of their areas of expertise.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

"To some degree, our evaluation design choices and specific configurations enabled the behaviour," it said, while noting its unexpected "signs of novel, potentially deceptive behaviours".

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

The reason why LA28 isn’t selling individual seats right now is because venue configurations are still ongoing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Among several approaches, the road map pointed to a unique reactor concept — field-reversed configurations, “which could significantly reduce the cost of fusion power.”

From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026

When cooled to near absolute zero, the material can settle into any one of these configurations, producing a range of observed states that resemble the continuum seen in quantum spin liquids.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026

Thus there must have been initial configurations that would not have given rise to a universe like the one we see today.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

Related Words

• composition
• contour
• shape
• structure