structure meaning

structure as a noun

1. a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
   • the structure consisted of a series of arches
   • she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons

   Synonyms: construction

   Type of: artifact

   Kinds: airdock, altar, arcade, arch, area, balcony, bascule, boarding, body, bridge, building, building complex

2. the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts
   • artists must study the structure of the human body
   • the structure of the benzene molecule

   Type of: constitution

   Kinds: infrastructure, computer architecture, cytoarchitecture, framework

3. the complex composition of knowledge as elements and their combinations
   • his lectures have no structure

   Type of: cognition

   Kinds: arrangement, form, syntax, morphology

4. a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing and its construction and arrangement
   • he has good bone structure

   Synonyms: anatomical structure, complex body part, bodily structure, body structure

   Type of: body part

   Kinds: layer, apodeme, calyculus, tooth, pad, gill slit, gill arch, peristome, syrinx, bulb, carina, cauda

5. the people in a society considered as a system organized by a characteristic pattern of relationships
   • the social organization of England and America is very different
   • sociologists have studied the changing structure of the family

   Synonyms: social organization, social organisation, social structure, social system

   Type of: system

   Kinds: feudalism, patriarchy, matriarchy, meritocracy, pluralism, class structure, segregation

structure as a verb

1. give a structure to
   • I need to structure my days

   Type of: organize

   Kinds: restructure

How to pronounce structure

structure is pronounced /ˈstrʌktʃə/ in British English and /ˈstrʌktʃɚ/ in American English. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.