Structure refers to the arrangement or organization of parts to form an integrated whole, or to the framework of a building. In everyday use it can describe how sentences, systems, or objects are put together. The term encompasses both physical construction and conceptual organization, and is frequently used across disciplines from architecture to linguistics.
- You often forget the final /ɚ/ or /ə/ in non-rhotic accents; practice with focus on schwa-like ending. - The /str/ cluster can be rushed; ensure a clean onset by starting with a held /s/ and building to /tr/ quickly, not as separate sounds. - The /tʃ/ should be a single affricate; avoid a light, separate /t/ and /ʃ/; instead, fuse into /tʃ/. - Stress should stay on the first syllable; avoid shifting stress to the second syllable. Practice drill: isolate onset cluster, then full word, then in a sentence.
- US: pronounce final /r/ with a distinct rhoticity; keep the /ə/ at the end as a vocalic r-colored schwa. - UK: non-rhotic; final vowel reduced to /ə/ or /əə/ with minimal r-coloring; maintain a crisp /tʃ/ and strong initial /str/. - AU: often non-rhotic with slightly broader vowel quality; keep the /ʃ/ from blending to /tʃ/ cleanly; you may hear a more centralized final vowel. IPA anchors: US /ˈstrʌk.tʃəɹ/, UK /ˈstrʌk.tʃə/, AU /ˈstɹʌk.tʃə/ or /ˈstrʌk.tʃə/.
"The structure of the essay helped readers follow the argument clearly."
"DNA determines the molecular structure of proteins."
"Before we build, we must design the structure of the house."
"The police are investigating the structural integrity of the bridge."
Structure comes from Latin structura, from struere meaning to build, arrange, or construct. The word entered English via Old French structure and Middle English around the 15th century, initially in architectural or mechanical contexts. Its sense broadened to denote the arrangement of parts in a system, organization, or framework, including abstract concepts like the structure of a society or a theory. The root struere yields other related forms such as obstruct, destruct, and reconstruct, highlighting a core semantic link to building and ordering. Over time, structure has become a general term across disciplines, often paired with adjectives to specify the level or kind of organization (e.g., social structure, sentence structure, internal structure). First known uses in English documents highlight its architectural roots, but its cross-domain growth made it a staple in academic and professional vocabularies by the 19th and 20th centuries.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Structure" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Structure" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Structure"
-ure sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
You pronounce it as /ˈstrʌk.tʃər/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The sequence is STRUK + CHUR, where the /str/ cluster starts with a strong lip- and tongue-positioned onset, the /ʌ/ is the short 'uh' vowel, and the final /ər/ reduces to a schwa with rhotic follow-through in rhotic accents. In non-rhotic UK English, the final syllable often becomes /-tə/ or /-tə/ with a more centralized vowel. Audio reference: listen for the clear /str/ onset, the stressed first syllable, and the light, reduced final syllable.
Common errors: (1) Skipping the /r/ sound in the final syllable in non-rhotic accents, making it /ˈstrʌk.tʃə/. (2) Reducing the first syllable too much, saying /strʌk.tʃə/ with a weak /ʌ/; instead, emphasize the /ʌ/ as in STRUK. (3) Dropping the /tʃ/ onset from /tʃər/, yielding /ˈstrʊk.rə/; maintain the /tʃ/ blend as a clear affricate. Practice by isolating /str/ and /tʃ/ with a slight pause then blend.
US: /ˈstrʌk.tʃər/ with rhotic /r/ in the final syllable. UK: /ˈstrʌk.tʃə/ with non-rhotic final /ə/. AU: typically /ˈstɹʌk.tʃə/ or /ˈstrʌk.tʃə/, with a similar non-rhotic tendency but often more pronounced vowel quality and a vowel color closer to /ɐ/ in some speakers. The key differences are rhoticity and final-vowel quality; US keeps some rhoticization, UK typically reduces the final vowel, and AU varies but often mirrors UK with regional vowel shifts.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /str/ at the start, which requires tight-tongue coordination and quick, precise release; plus the /tʃ/ onset immediately after the /k/ closure creates a glued consonant blend that many learners struggle to separate. The final /ər/ in rhotic accents can be challenging due to the schwa plus a rhotic vowel effect or, in non-rhotic variants, an even lighter ending. Focus on initial cluster clean release and accurate /tʃ/ timing.
Does the word retain a subtle 'u' sound between /k/ and /tʃ/? Not in standard pronunciation. It’s /ˈstrʌk.tʃər/ with no separate /u/ vowel between the /k/ and /tʃ/. The /tʃ/ sequence blends directly after /k/; your lips transition from a velar /k/ closure to a palato-alveolar affricate /tʃ/ in one smooth motion. This tight transition is a common source of hesitation for learners.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Structure"!
- Shadowing: listen to native speaker clips of 'Structure' at natural speed; imitate exactly the rhythm and intonation, then speed up gradually. - Minimal pairs: focus on syllable – practice with /strʌk/ vs /strɪk/ to strengthen onset timing; pairs like ‘structure’ vs ‘st ruture’ (not exact but use similar phonemes) help find the precise /ʌ/ and /tʃ/ value. - Rhythm: emphasize the strong-weak pattern: STRUK - tʃər; keep a short, stressed first syllable followed by a quick, lighter second. - Stress: keep primary stress on the first syllable; practice saying 'STRUCTURE' in isolation, then within a sentence with natural emphasis. - Recording: record yourself saying the word in phrases; compare to a native sample and adjust mouth positions. - Context practice: say 'the structure of the report' and 'architectural structure' to embed the pronunciation in real language.
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