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

Their models project a reusable payload of about 115 tonnes to low Earth orbit, with as much as 188 tonnes possible in an expendable configuration.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

It costs £3m each time the London Stadium moves seats from a football set-up to an athletics configuration, but neither UKA nor Diamond League ticket-holders pay for it - the stadium does.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

Its asymmetrical, free-form plate-glass top rests on a base made of two identical, U-shaped wooden legs —a configuration that blurs distinctions between primitivism and classicism, the organic and the engineered, furniture and art.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

It wasn’t a classical way to approach the game, and it leads to a very different configuration as the game progresses; but Bobby took the chance.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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

Premium services like NFL Sunday Ticket, which carries all out-of-market games on Sunday afternoons, start at $240 a year and can exceed $500 in some configurations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The company has largely held iPhone prices steady in recent years, although it has removed some lower-cost storage configurations.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

This mixed arrangement prevents the system from forming a single ordered state and instead creates many possible low energy configurations.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026

Starting with a population with natural variation in gene configurations, he had added a force of natural selection: temperature.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• composition
• contour
• shape
• structure