Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
structure
/ˈstɹʌktʃə(ɹ)/
When used as a noun to describe the arrangement of parts, it is often uncountable (e.g., "The structure of the atom"). When referring to a physical building or object, it is a countable noun (e.g., "Several old structures were demolished"). As a verb, "structure" is most commonly used in professional or academic contexts to describe how information, time, or an organization is organized.
💬Casual Conversation
David's tripping. He wants me to structure this deck by EOD.
Rip. Just wing it and hope he doesn't actually look at the slides.
Meanings
The arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.
"The social structure of the tribe is based on kinship."
A building or other object constructed from several smaller parts.
"The Eiffel Tower is a magnificent iron structure."
To construct or arrange according to a plan.
"She structured the essay into five clear paragraphs."
Examples
The structure of the building looks totally unstable, man!
I just can't believe this entire structure is made of glass.
Look, we need to structure this project or we will fail!
The company's corporate structure is just way too rigid for me.
He decided to change the structure of his daily routine.
Wait, how did you structure your argument for this thesis?
The molecular structure of the compound is incredibly complex.
I'm not sure how to structure my resume for this role.
Collocations & Compounds
social structure
The organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that together constitute society.
corporate structure
The hierarchical arrangement of authority and communication within a company.
capital structure
The particular combination of debt and equity used by a company to finance its overall operations.
sentence structure
The grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence.
steel structure
A building or framework constructed primarily from steel.
Cultural Context
Why are we so captivated by stories? Whether it is a sweeping epic like 'The Lord of the Rings' or a tight 90-minute thriller, the secret doesn't lie solely in the plot, but in the underlying narrative structure. For centuries, humans have intuitively organized their experiences into patterns to make sense of a chaotic universe.
One of the most enduring frameworks is the 'Hero's Journey,' or the Monomyth, popularized by Joseph Campbell. This structural blueprint suggests that almost every great myth follows a similar path: a call to adventure, a crossing of the threshold, a series of trials, and an eventual return with a boon. From Odysseus in Ancient Greece to Luke Skywalker in a galaxy far, far away, this specific structure resonates because it mirrors the psychological process of human growth—leaving the comfort of the known to face the unknown and returning transformed.
But narrative structure isn't just for storytelling; it is how our brains process reality. Cognitive psychology suggests that we 'structure' our memories not as a linear recording, but as a series of interconnected nodes. When we tell a story about our lives, we are essentially performing an act of architectural engineering, selecting specific events and arranging them to create a coherent identity.
In the modern era, we see this structure evolve in digital media. The 'non-linear' structure of video games allows players to build their own narrative arcs, yet even these open worlds rely on invisible guardrails—structural milestones that ensure the emotional payoff hits at the right moment. When a story feels 'off,' it is usually because the internal structure has collapsed; the pacing is wrong, or the tension lacks a foundation. Ultimately, structure is the silent conductor of emotion, transforming a random sequence of events into a meaningful human experience.