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

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

Resonator arrangements that were previously locked into one configuration after fabrication could instead be adjusted for different purposes.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

“We don’t have a firm configuration right now,” he said during an interview Sunday ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow outside London.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 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

It did not say how the laws should be chosen and it did not specify the initial configuration of the universe.

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

The capacity to arrange shapes and lines in organized configurations may represent an important sign of emerging abstract thought, a major development in the evolution of human cognition.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

"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

“It’s an alphabet soup of configurations that can be incredibly confusing,” Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, told MarketWatch about all the premium screening options.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 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

Tethered to the pier around us are many ships of all configurations.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys

Related Words

• composition
• contour
• shape
• structure