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structure

 - 5 dictionary results

struc⋅ture

  [struhk-cher] noun, verb, -tured, -tur⋅ing.
Use structure in a Sentence
–noun
1. mode of building, construction, or organization; arrangement of parts, elements, or constituents: a pyramidal structure.
2. something built or constructed, as a building, bridge, or dam.
3. a complex system considered from the point of view of the whole rather than of any single part: the structure of modern science.
4. anything composed of parts arranged together in some way; an organization.
5. the relationship or organization of the component parts of a work of art or literature: the structure of a poem.
6. Biology. mode of organization; construction and arrangement of tissues, parts, or organs.
7. Geology.
a. the attitude of a bed or stratum or of beds or strata of sedimentary rocks, as indicated by the dip and strike.
b. the coarser composition of a rock, as contrasted with its texture.
8. Chemistry. the manner in which atoms in a molecule are joined to each other, esp. in organic chemistry where molecular arrangement is represented by a diagram or model.
9. Sociology.
a. the system or complex of beliefs held by members of a social group.
b. the system of relations between the constituent groups of a society.
c. the relationship between or the interrelated arrangement of the social institutions of a society or culture, as of mores, marriage customs, or family.
d. the pattern of relationships, as of status or friendship, existing among the members of a group or society.
10. 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)
11. to give a structure, organization, or arrangement to; construct a systematic framework for.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L structūra, equiv. to struct(us) (ptp. of struere to put together) + -ūra -ure

Synonyms:
1. system, form, configuration. 2. See building.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To structure
struc·ture   (strŭk'chər)   
n.  

  1. Something made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way: hierarchical social structure.

  2. The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole; makeup: triangular in structure.

  3. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a complex entity: political structure; plot structure.

  4. Something constructed, such as a building.

  5. Biology

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

    2. An organ or other part of an organism.

tr.v.   struc·tured, struc·tur·ing, struc·tures
To give form or arrangement to: structure a curriculum; structure one's day.

[Middle English, the process of building, from Latin strūctūra, from strūctus, past participle of struere, to construct; see ster-2 in Indo-European roots.]
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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Word Origin & History

structure 
c.1440, "action or process of building or construction," from L. structura "a fitting together, adjustment, building," from structus, pp. of struere "to pile, build, assemble," related to strues "heap," from PIE *stere- "to spread, extend, stretch out" (cf. Skt. strnoti "strews, throws down;" Avestan star- "to spread out, stretch out;" Gk. stornymi "strew," stroma "bedding, mattress," sternon "breast, breastbone;" L. sternere "to stretch, extend;" O.C.S. stira, streti "spread," strama "district;" Rus. stroji "order;" Goth. straujan, O.H.G. strouwen, O.E. streowian "to sprinkle, strew;" O.E. streon "strain," streaw "straw, that which is scattered;" O.H.G. stirna "forehead," strala "arrow, lightning bolt;" O.Ir. fo-sernaim "spread out," srath "a wide river valley;" Welsh srat "plain"). Meaning "that which is constructed, a building or edifice" is from 1615. Structured "organized so as to produce results" is from 1959.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: struc·ture
Pronunciation: 'str&k-ch&r
Function: noun
1 : something (as an anatomical part) arranged in a definite patternof organization
2 a : the arrangement of particles or parts in a substance or body structure> b : organization of parts as dominated by thegeneral character of the whole structure>
3 : the aggregate of elements of an entity in their relationships to each other
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

structure struc·ture (strŭk'chər)
n.

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

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

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