structūra, ae, f. [struo], a fitting together, adaptation, adjustment.
I Lit.
A In gen. (post-Aug. and very rare): ossa in manu oblonga omnia et triangula, structurā quādam inter se conectuntur, Cels. 8, 1 med. : membranarum, Plin. 13, 19, 34, § 112: togae, Macr. S. 2, 9.—
B In partic., an architectural fitting together , a building or erecting.
1 In abstr. (class.): parietum, the mode of building , construction , * Caes. B. C. 2, 9; cf.: structurae antiquae genus, Liv. 21, 11; and: reticulata structura, Plin. 36, 22, 51, § 172: (silex) globosus sed structurae infidelis, for building , id. 36, 22, 49, § 169: in structurā saxorum rudium, Quint. 9, 4, 27.— Plur. : in structuris lapidum impolitorum, Quint. 8, 6, 63.—
2 In concr., a building , erection , edifice , structure , Front. Aquaed. 123; Vitr. 5, 12: subterraneae, Plin. 36, 22, 50, § 170: aerariae structurae, i. e. mining works , mines , Caes. B. G. 3, 21 fin. (al. structuraeque).—
II Trop., of language, an arrangement , order , structure (in Cic. only as a figure of speech, with quasi or quaedam; later in gen.): verborum quasi structura, Cic. Brut. 8, 33: quasi structura quaedam, id. Or. 44, 149: et verborum est structura quaedam, id. Opt. Gen. 2, 5: proprietates verborum exigit, et structuram et argumentationes, Sen. Ep. 89, 9: mei carminis, Ov. P. 4, 13, 4; Quint. 1, 10, 23; 8, 5, 27; 8, 6, 67; 9, 4, 45; Tac. Or. 22 fin.