configuration

UK: /kənˌfɪgʊˈreɪʃ^ən/

US: /kənˌfɪgjəˈreɪʃən/

US: (kən fig′yə rā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•fig•u•ra•tion /kənˌfɪgyəˈreɪʃən/   n. [countable]

1. the arrangement of the parts or elements of a thing.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•fig•u•ra•tion  (kən fig′yə rā′shən), n. 

1. the relative disposition or arrangement of the parts or elements of a thing.
2. external form, as resulting from this; conformation.
3. Astronomy
   • the relative position or aspect of heavenly bodies.
   • a group of stars.
4. Chemistry an atomic spatial arrangement that is fixed by the chemical bonding in a molecule and that cannot be altered without breaking bonds (contrasted with conformation).
5. Computing the totality of a computer and the devices connected to it:
   A common microcomputer configuration consists of a computer, two disk drives, a monitor, and a printer.

• Late Latin configūrātiōn- (stem of configūrātiō), equivalent. to Latin configūrāt(us) shaped like its model, past participle of configūrāre to mold, shape (con- con- + figūr(a) figure + -ātus -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion
• 1550–60

con•fig′u•ra′tion•al, con•fig•u•ra•tive  (kən fig′yər ə tiv, -yə rā′tiv), adj.  con•fig′u•ra′tion•al•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

configuration / kənˌfɪɡjʊˈreɪʃən/ noun

1. the arrangement of the parts of something
2. the external form or outline achieved by such an arrangement
3. the unit or pattern in perception studied by Gestalt psychologists

Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin configūrātiō a similar formation, from configūrāre to model on something, from figūrāre to shape, fashion

conˌfiguˈrational, conˈfigurative adjective