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.