structure

[ struhk-cher ]

/ ˈstrʌk tʃər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR structure ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

mode of building, construction, or organization; arrangement of parts, elements, or constituents: a pyramidal structure.

something built or constructed, as a building, bridge, or dam.

a complex system considered from the point of view of the whole rather than of any single part: the structure of modern science.

anything composed of parts arranged together in some way; an organization.

the relationship or organization of the component parts of a work of art or literature: the structure of a poem.

Biology. mode of organization; construction and arrangement of tissues, parts, or organs.

Geology.

the attitude of a bed or stratum or of beds or strata of sedimentary rocks, as indicated by the dip and strike.
the coarser composition of a rock, as contrasted with its texture.

Chemistry. the manner in which atoms in a molecule are joined to each other, especially in organic chemistry where molecular arrangement is represented by a diagram or model.

Sociology.

the system or complex of beliefs held by members of a social group.
the system of relations between the constituent groups of a society.
the relationship between or the interrelated arrangement of the social institutions of a society or culture, as of mores, marriage customs, or family.
the pattern of relationships, as of status or friendship, existing among the members of a group or society.

the pattern of organization of a language as a whole or of arrangements of linguistic units, as phonemes, morphemes or tagmemes, within larger units.

verb (used with object), struc·tured, struc·tur·ing.

to give a structure, organization, or arrangement to; construct or build a systematic framework for: to structure a curriculum so well that a novice teacher can use it.

QUIZZES

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"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

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Origin of structure

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin structūra, equivalent to struct(us) (past participle of struere to put together) + -ūra -ure

SYNONYMS FOR structure

1 system, form, configuration.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR structure ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for structure

2. See building.

OTHER WORDS FROM structure

de·struc·ture, verb (used with object), de·struc·tured, de·struc·tur·ing.in·ter·struc·ture, nounnon·struc·ture, nounpre·struc·ture, verb (used with object), pre·struc·tured, pre·struc·tur·ing.

Words nearby structure

structural psychology, structural steel, structural unemployment, structuralism, structuralize, structure, structured, structured programming, structureless, strudel, struggle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for structure

This structure is particularly destructive for children in low-income families.
How a GOP Senate Can Help the Poor|Veronique de Rugy|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And a small battery hidden in the structure can store power, which can be used to keep highly efficient LEG bulbs lit at night.
Parks and Regeneration|The Daily Beast|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The piece of metal was held up to the place in the structure where the window had been covered over.
How Amelia's Plane Was Found|Michael Daly|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Growth in one body part often affects size and structure of other body parts.
Why Aristotle Deserves A Posthumous Nobel|Nick Romeo|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Like the cerebrum, the cerebellum has two hemispheres, separated by a structure called the vermis.
Early Brain Injury Might Be the Root of Autism|Russell Saunders|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Hirudo, Leuckart has described three similar pairs of organs, the structure of which he has fully elucidated.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume III (of 4)|Francis Maitland Balfour
This structure consists of a non-vascularized network of fibres, in the meshes of which cells are imbedded.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I|Various
A misunderstanding between the trio resulted in the withdrawal of the two medical men before the structure was completed.
Florida: Past and present|Samuel Curtis Upham
The church has blest and sanctified the family relation as the fundamental element in the structure of human society.
Donahoe's Magazine, Vol. XV, No. 4, April, 1886|Various
The sponges have received the name of Porifera, on account of the structure above described.
Stories of the Universe: Animal Life|B. Lindsay

British Dictionary definitions for structure

structure

/ (ˈstrʌktʃə) /

noun

a complex construction or entity

the arrangement and interrelationship of parts in a construction, such as a building

the manner of construction or organizationthe structure of society

biology morphology; form

chem the arrangement of atoms in a molecule of a chemical compoundthe structure of benzene

geology the way in which a mineral, rock, rock mass or stratum, etc, is made up of its component parts

rare the act of constructing

verb

(tr) to impart a structure to

Word Origin for structure

C15: from Latin structūra, from struere to build

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for structure

structure

[ strŭk′chər ]

n.

The arrangement or formation of the tissues, organs, or other parts of an organism.

A tissue, an organ, or other formation made up of different but related parts.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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structure

noun

verb (used with object), struc·tured, struc·tur·ing.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of structure

SYNONYMS FOR structure

synonym study for structure

OTHER WORDS FROM structure

Words nearby structure

Example sentences from the Web for structure

British Dictionary definitions for structure

noun

verb

Word Origin for structure

Medical definitions for structure

n.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

structure

noun

verb (used with object), struc·tured, struc·tur·ing.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of structure

SYNONYMS FOR structure

synonym study for structure

OTHER WORDS FROM structure

Words nearby structure

Words related to structure

Example sentences from the Web for structure

British Dictionary definitions for structure

noun

verb

Word Origin for structure

Medical definitions for structure

n.