structural
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to the physical parts that hold a building or object together.
adj.relating to the physical framework or load-bearing components of a construction.
Simple“The earthquake caused serious structural damage to the old bridge.”
In context“The engineer identified several structural flaws in the foundation that would require immediate reinforcement to prevent a total collapse.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to the way a system, organization, or society is organized.
adj.relating to the underlying organization or essential framework of a system, society, or economy.
Simple“The company needs structural changes to improve how different departments work together.”
In context“Economists argue that the country's high unemployment rate is a structural issue rather than a temporary result of the recent recession.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.strong pieces of metal used to build the frame of a building.
n.refers to structural steel or other load-bearing components used in the construction industry.
Simple“The crane lifted the heavy structurals into place for the new skyscraper.”
In context“The procurement officer ordered several tons of high-grade structurals to ensure the project met the new safety regulations.”
UsageUsually used as a collective noun in the construction trade.
Usage structural changes · structural damage · appreciation structural
“He told residents to check their buildings for structural damage.”
“In this absorbing, engaging 7+ scientific handbook, structural engineer Agrawal investigates the physics of materials via seven hands-on challenges.”
From structure + -al, 19th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.