structure
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.something that has been built, such as a house, bridge, or tower.
n.a physical construction or building, often of considerable size or complexity.
Simple“The ancient stone structure has stood on the hill for over five hundred years.”
In context“Engineers inspected the steel structure of the bridge to ensure it could withstand the increased weight of modern heavy-rail traffic.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the way that the parts of something are arranged or put together.
n.the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.
Simple“The teacher helped the students plan the structure of their essays.”
In context“The internal structure of the corporation was redesigned to facilitate better communication between the research and marketing departments.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a group of different pieces of information treated as one single unit.
n.a data type that groups together variables under one name; often used to represent a record.
Simple“The programmer defined a new structure to store the user's name and age.”
In context“Efficiently managing the data structure is critical for reducing the latency of the search algorithm during high-traffic periods.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.objects under the water, like trees or rocks, where fish like to hide.
n.submerged objects or terrain features that provide cover and attract fish populations.
Simple“We caught several large bass hiding near the structure of the fallen tree.”
In context“Experienced anglers often use sonar to locate underwater structure where predatory fish are likely to congregate during the warmer months.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to plan or organize something in a clear way.
v.to give a definite and organized form to something; to arrange according to a plan.
Simple“You should structure your day so you have time for both work and rest.”
In context“The legal team worked through the night to structure the merger agreement in a way that satisfied the regulatory requirements of both countries.”
Usage alter structure · alternative structure · coherent structure
From Middle French structure, from Latin structūra (“a fitting together, adjustment, building, erection, a building, edifice, structure”), from struere, past participle structus (“pile up, arrange, assemble, build”). Compare construct, instruct, destroy, etc.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.