A structure is the arrangement and organization of interrelated parts or elements within a system or object. It refers to how these parts are connected or put together in an ordered way to form a whole
. Structures can be physical, such as buildings, bridges, bones, or machines, or abstract, like sentence structure or data structures in computer science
. In engineering and construction, a structure is something built from different interrelated parts with a fixed location, designed to bear loads and maintain stability. Structural elements can be one-dimensional (beams, ropes), two-dimensional (plates, shells), or three-dimensional (solid masses)
. Structural engineering focuses on analyzing these elements and their responses to loads. More broadly, structure can also mean the manner of organization or construction of anything complex, including social systems, molecules, or works of art
. In summary:
- Definition: Arrangement and organization of parts in a system or object.
- Types: Physical (buildings, bones), abstract (sentences, data).
- Engineering context: Load-bearing constructions made of structural elements.
- Scope: Applies to natural, man-made, and conceptual systems.
This concept is fundamental across disciplines, from biology and chemistry to architecture and linguistics
