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CONFIGURATION - 5 dictionary results

con⋅fig⋅u⋅ra⋅tion

  [kuhn-fig-yuh-rey-shuhn]
Use CONFIGURATION in a Sentence
–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.
a. the relative position or aspect of heavenly bodies.
b. 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. the totality of a computer and the devices connected to it: A common microcomputer configuration consists of a computer, two disk drives, a monitor, and a printer.
Origin:
1550–60; < LL configūrātiōn- (s. of configūrātiō), equiv. to L configūrāt(us) shaped like its model, ptp. of configūrāre to mold, shape (con- con- + figūr(a) figure + -ātus -ate 1 ) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
con⋅fig⋅u⋅ra⋅tion⋅al, con⋅fig⋅u⋅ra⋅tive  [kuhn-fig-yer-uh-tiv, -yuh-rey-tiv] , adjective
con⋅fig⋅u⋅ra⋅tion⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To CONFIGURATION
con·fig·u·ra·tion   (kən-fĭg'yə-rā'shən)   
n.  
    1. Arrangement of parts or elements.
    2. The form, as of a figure, determined by the arrangement of its parts or elements. See Synonyms at form.
    3. The way in which a computer system is set up: changed the configuration by resetting the parameters.
    4. The set of constituent components, such as memory, a hard disk, a monitor, and an operating system, that make up a computer system.
    5. The way that the components of a computer network are connected.
  2. Psychology Gestalt.
  3. Chemistry The structural arrangement of atoms in a compound or molecule.
  4. Computer Science
    1. The way in which a computer system is set up: changed the configuration by resetting the parameters.
    2. The set of constituent components, such as memory, a hard disk, a monitor, and an operating system, that make up a computer system.
    3. The way that the components of a computer network are connected.
con·fig'u·ra'tion·al·ly adv., con·fig'u·ra'tive, con·fig'u·ra'tion·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Configuration

Con*fig`u*ra"tion\, n. [L. configuratio.]

1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing' shape; figure.

It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. --Harris.

2. (Astrol.) Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time.

They [astrologers] undertook . . . to determine the course of a man's character and life from the configuration of the stars at the moment of his birth. --Whewell.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Main Entry: con·fig·u·ra·tion
Pronunciation: k&n-"fig-(y)&-'rA-sh&n, "kän-
Function: noun
1 a : relativearrangement of parts or elements b : the stable structural makeup of a chemical compound especially with reference to the space relations of the constituent atoms
2 : GESTALT configuration> —con·fig·u·ra·tion·al /-shn&l, -sh&n-&l/ adjective —con·fig·u·ra·tion·al·ly /-E/ adverb —con·fig·u·ra·tive /-'fig-(y)&-r&t-iv/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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configuration con·fig·u·ra·tion (kən-fĭg'yə-rā'shən)
n.

  1. The arrangement of parts or elements of a whole, especially the structural arrangement of atoms in a compound or molecule.
  2. Gestalt.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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