Estructures

Estructures is the Catalan plural noun corresponding to "structures" in English. It is used across multiple fields to denote the arrangement or organization of parts that form a coherent whole. It can refer to tangible frameworks such as buildings and bridges, as well as abstract arrangements such as social systems, linguistic configurations, or mathematical constructs.

Etymology: Estructures derives from the singular estructura, with roots in Latin structura and French structure. In Catalan orthography, estructura is the singular form and estructures the plural form.

Disciplines and senses: In architecture and civil engineering, estructures describe the load-bearing frame, joints, and materials that determine safety and stability. In sociology and anthropology, the word denotes social structures—institutions, roles, norms, and networks that shape behavior. In linguistics, it can refer to phrase structures and syntactic organization. In mathematics and computer science, Catalan texts often use estructures de dades to mean data structures, or refer to algebraic structures for mathematical objects.

Usage notes: Use estructura to denote a single framework; use estructures to discuss multiple or generalized arrangements. The term covers physical, social, linguistic, and abstract domains, depending on context.

See also: estructura; estructuralisme; architecture; social structure; data structure.