configuration

/kənˈfɪgəˌreɪʃən/

/kənfɪgjəˈreɪʃɪn/

Other forms: configurations

When you position items into any spatial arrangement, you are creating a configuration, or specific shape. For example, scientists refer to the specific, bonded arrangement of atoms to make a molecule as a configuration.

The root of configuration presents pretty much the current meaning, with the Latin configūrāre meaning "to mold or shape." You can see the word figure in the middle, which presents the idea of a physical form that's being shaped. As an example: the specific configuration, or arrangement, of the genes in your DNA is what makes you the unique individual that you are.

Definitions of configuration

1. noun

   an arrangement of parts or elements
   “the outcome depends on the configuration of influences at the time”

   synonyms: constellation

   types:

   redundancy

   (electronics) a system design that duplicates components to provide alternatives in case one component fails

   network topology, topology

   the configuration of a communication network

   chunking, unitisation, unitization

   (psychology) the configuration of smaller units of information into large coordinated units

   bus, bus topology

   the topology of a network whose components are connected by a busbar

   loop, loop topology

   the topology of a network whose components are serially connected in such a way that the last component is connected to the first component

   star, star topology

   the topology of a network whose components are connected to a hub

   mesh, mesh topology

   the topology of a network whose components are all connected directly to every other component

   physical topology

   the appearance of the network

   logical topology

   the way the network works

   type of:

   design, plan

   an arrangement scheme
2. noun

   any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
   synonyms: conformation, contour, form, shape

   types:

   keenness, sharpness

   thinness of edge or fineness of point

   bluntness, dullness

   without sharpness or clearness of edge or point

   topography

   the configuration of a surface and the relations among its man-made and natural features

   lobularity

   the property of having lobules

   concaveness, concavity

   the property possessed by a concave shape

   convexity, convexness

   the property possessed by a convex shape

   angularity

   the property possessed by a shape that has angles

   narrowing

   an instance of becoming narrow

   curvature, curve

   the property possessed by the curving of a line or surface

   roundness

   the property possessed by a line or surface that is curved and not angular

   straightness

   freedom from crooks or curves or bends or angles

   crookedness

   having or distinguished by crooks or curves or bends or angles

   stratification

   a layered configuration

   acuteness

   the quality of having a sharp edge or point

   obtuseness

   the quality of lacking a sharp edge or point

   hollowness

   the property of having a sunken area

   bulginess, roundedness

   the property possessed by a rounded convexity

   coarctation

   (biology) a narrowing or constriction of a vessel or canal; especially a congenital narrowing of the aorta

   taper

   the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone)

   oblongness, rectangularity

   the property of being shaped like a rectangle

   triangularity

   the property of being shaped like a triangle

   globosity, globularness, rotundity, rotundness, sphericalness, sphericity

   the roundness of a 3-dimensional object

   cylindricality, cylindricalness

   the roundness of a 3-dimensional cylinder

   circularity, disk shape

   the roundness of a 2-dimensional figure

   curliness, waviness

   (of hair) a tendency to curl

   straightness

   (of hair) lack of a tendency to curl

   bottleneck, chokepoint, constriction

   a narrowing that reduces the flow through a channel

   type of:

   spatial property, spatiality

   any property relating to or occupying space