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Definition of structure noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

        

    structure

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈstrʌktʃər//
     
     
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  1. 1[uncountable, countable] the way in which the parts of something are connected together, arranged, or organized; a particular arrangement of parts the structure of the building changes in the social and economic structure of society the grammatical structures of a language a salary structure
  2. 2[countable] a thing that is made of several parts, especially a building a stone/brick/wooden structure Thesaurusbuilding
    • property
    • premises
    • complex
    • structure
    These are all words for a structure such as a house, school, or factory that has a roof and four walls.
    • building a structure such as a house, school, or factory that has a roof and four walls
    • property a building or buildings and the surrounding land; land and buildings:We have a buyer who would like to view the property. Property values have risen enormously. This word is often used when talking about buying/selling houses or other buildings and land.
    • premises [pl.] (formal) the building or buildings and surrounding land that a business or person owns or uses:The police searched the premises.
    • complex a group of buildings of a similar type together in one place:an apartment complex
    • structure a thing that is made of several parts, especially a building:The pier is a wooden structure.
    Patterns
    • (a/an) commercial/industrial/residential building/property/premises/complex
    • an apartment building/complex
    • a/the school building/premises
    • to build a property/complex/structure
    • to put up a building/property/structure
    • to demolish/knock down a building/property/complex/structure
  3. 3[uncountable, countable] the state of being well organized or planned with all the parts linked together; a careful plan Your essay needs (a) structure.
    4. Thesaurusstructure
    • framework
    • form
    • composition
    • construction
    • fabric
    These are all words for the way the different parts of something combine together or the way that something has been made.
    • structure the way in which the parts of something are connected together or arranged; a particular arrangement of parts:the structure of the building/human body the social structure of society the grammatical structures of a language a salary structure
    • framework a set of beliefs, ideas, or rules that forms the basis of a system or society:The report provides a framework for further research.
    • form the arrangement of parts in a whole, especially in a work of art or piece of writing:As a photographer, shape and form were more important to him than color.
    • composition (somewhat formal) the different parts or people that combine to form something; the way in which they combine:recent changes in the composition of our workforce
    • construction the way that something has been built or made:He blamed the accident on shoddy construction.
    • fabric (somewhat formal) the basic structure of a society or an organization that enables it to function successfully:This is a trend that threatens the very fabric of society.
    Patterns
    • the basic structure/framework/form/composition/construction/fabric of something
    • a simple/complex structure/framework/form
    • the economic/political/social structure/framework/composition/fabric of something
    • the chemical/genetic structure/composition of something
See structure in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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