Words / B2

AHK-it-ekch-uh/ˈɑːkɪtektʃə/

Architecture is the design of buildings, or the style of a particular period: Gothic architecture, software architecture (a metaphor for how a system is built). Building design is the everyday paraphrase. An architect is the person. Architectural is the adjective. Do not use architecture for one house unless you mean its design as a type.

Meaning

The design of buildings, or the style of a building.

Examples

• “She studies architecture at university.”
• “The campus architecture mixes brick halls with glass labs.”
• “She liked the architecture of the argument: claim, evidence, limit.”

Good to know

the architecture of a building / period. Person: architect. Everyday: building design. Also: system structure.

Near in meaning

design

New