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Definition

noun, plural: structures

(1) (biology) An arrangement or organization of parts to form an organ, system, or living thing.

(2) (ecology) A network or a hierarchy of interrelated parts of a system.

(3) (chemistry) The molecular geometry, electronic structure and crystal structure of a chemical compound.

(4) The formation or mode of construction of a body or system from distinct units.

(5) A collection of interrelated or arranged parts of an entity.

(6) The overall form or organization of something.

(7) A formation, organization or construction.

Supplement

In biology, structures exist at all levels of organization, i.e. from the molecular to the cellular, tissue, organ, organismic, population and ecosystem level.

Word origin: French structure < Latin structura (“‘a fitting together, adjustment, building, erection, a building, edifice, structure’”)
Related forms: structural (adjective)

Related terms:

• Structure activity analysis
• Structure-activity relationship
• Stem and loop structure
• Fine structure
• Gel structure
• Molecular structure
• Crystal structure
• Protein structure
• Primary structure
• Secondary structure
• Tertiary structure
• Quaternary structure