configuration

American  

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

noun

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
• configurative
  adjective
• configurationally
  adverb
• configurational
  adjective

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

Their role is shifting from implementation to governance, from configuration to architecture, from maintenance to judgment.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Even with its partial configuration, the detector captured a signal unlike anything scientists had seen before.

From Science Daily • May 24, 2026

A clip of The Band in their configuration without Robbie Robertson, taken from a broadcast in Japan.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

The Air Force identified 10 Boeing 747-8 in a VIP configuration, a service official said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The triplet configuration of chords driving the four-beats-in-a-bar rock shuffle can be heard in songs as diverse as Fats Domino’s monster hit ‘Blueberry Hill’ of 1950 and Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ of 1984.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• composition
• contour
• shape
• structure