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Webster 1913 Edition

Construction

Con-struc′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
constructio
: cf. F.
construction
.]
1.
The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection; the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition.
2.
The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of anything; structure; arrangement.
An astrolabe of peculiar
construction
.
Whewell.
3.
(Gram.)
The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence; syntactical arrangement.
Some particles . . . in certain
constructions
have the sense of a whole sentence contained in them.
Locke.
4.
The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense.
Any person . . . might, by the sort of
construction
that would be put on this act, become liable to the penalties of treason.
Hallam.
Strictly
,
the term
[
construction
] signifies determining the meaning and proper effect of language by a consideration of the subject matter and attendant circumstances in connection with the words employed.
Abbott.
Interpretation properly precedes
construction
, but it does not go beyond the written text.
Parsons.
Construction of an equation
(Math.)
,
the drawing of such lines and figures as will represent geometrically the quantities in the equation, and their relations to each other.
–
Construction train
(Railroad)
,
a train for transporting men and materials for construction or repairs.

Webster 1828 Edition

Construction

CONSTRUCTION

,
Noun.
[L.]
1.
The act of building, or of devising and forming; fabrication.
2.
The form of building; the manner of putting together the parts of a building, a machine, or a system; structure; conformation.
The sailing of a ship and its capacity depend chiefly on its construction.
3.
In grammar, syntax, or the arrangement and connection of words in a sentence, according to established usages, or the practice of good writers and speakers.
4.
Sense; meaning; interpretation; explanation; or the manner of understanding the arrangement of words, or of understanding facts. Let us find the true construction; or let us give the authors words a sound, rational, consistent construction. What construction can be put upon this affair, or upon the conduct of a man?
5.
The manner of describing a figure or problem in geometry. The drawing of such lines, such figure, &c., as are previously necessary for making any demonstration appear more plain and undeniable.
6.
In algebra, the construction of equations is the method of reducing a known equation into lines and figures, in order to a geometrical demonstration.

Definition 2024

construction

construction

English

Construction on I-74

Noun

construction ‎(plural constructions)

  1. The process of constructing.
    Construction is underway on the new bridge.
  2. Anything that has been constructed.
    The engineer marvelled at his construction.
  3. The trade of building structures.
    He had worked in construction all his life.
  4. A building, model or some other structure.
    The office was a construction of steel and glass.
  5. (art) A (usually non-representational) structure, such as a collage etc.
    "Construction in string and clockwork" took first prize.
  6. The manner in which something is built.
    A thing of simple construction.
    • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
      Nothing could be more business-like than the construction of the stout dams, and nothing more gently rural than the limpid lakes, with the grand old forest trees marshalled round their margins like a veteran army that had marched down to drink, only to be stricken motionless at the water’s edge.
  7. (grammar) A group of words arranged to form a meaningful phrase.
  8. The act or result of construing the meaning of something.
    American conservatives tend to favor strict construction of the Constitution.
  9. The meaning or interpretation of a text, action etc.; the way something is viewed by an observer or onlooker.
    • 1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, Harper Perennial 2007, p. 95:
      He had considered sending Lucille away to stay with relations. But then people might have put the worst construction on it – might believe she had done something she shouldn't have.
  10. (geometry) A geometric figure of arcs and line segments that is drawable with a straightedge and compass.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin cōnstructiō, cōnstructiōnem.

Pronunciation

Noun

construction f ‎(plural constructions)

  1. construction

Related terms

Etymology

Borrowing from Old French construction, from Latin cōnstructiō, from cōnstruere, present active infinitive of cōnstruō.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
  • Rhymes: -ʌkʃən

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