configuration

/kənˌfɪɡəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˌfɪɡjəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˌfi-gyə-ˈrā-shən ˌkän-, -gə-ˈrā-/ (ame, mw)

configuration — noun

  • configurationsingular
  • configurationsplural

1. the specific arrangement of the pieces or components of something, describing ho

1.名詞B2
釋義

the specific arrangement of the pieces or components of something, describing how each is positioned or organised relative to the others

例句

The furniture in the living room was arranged in an L-shaped configuration so that everyone could see the television.

L-shaped configuration — describes shape/arrangement

Geologists studied the rock configuration along the cliff to understand how the layers had formed over millions of years.

rock configuration — natural/geological arrangement

同義詞
  • arrangement

    more general and everyday; configuration suggests a more systematic or technical layout

  • layout

    focuses on the spatial plan or design, especially of buildings or pages

  • structure

    emphasises the organisation of interconnected parts rather than their physical positions

文法句型

configuration + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used with a prepositional phrase introduced by 'of' to specify what is being arranged. The word is common in technical, design, and academic contexts.

常見錯誤

The configuration of the room was very beautiful.' (vague — configuration is about arrangement, not decoration).
The configuration of the desks in the classroom made group work difficult.
💡use configuration when the focus is on how parts are placed relative to each other, not on aesthetic quality.

2. how the components of a computer system — including its hardware, software, and

2.名詞B2
釋義

how the components of a computer system — including its hardware, software, and settings — are set up and organised so that it runs correctly

例句

The IT department spent the whole morning checking the network configuration after the server crash.

network configuration — computing collocation

Liang discovered that a simple configuration error in the printer settings was causing the whole system to slow down.

同義詞
  • setup

    more informal and common; can refer to the process of getting equipment ready as well as the resulting state

  • settings

    refers to the individual adjustable options rather than the overall arrangement of components

文法句型

configuration + of + noun phrase

configuration + noun

用法筆記

Frequently appears as part of compound nouns in computing: network configuration, system configuration, hardware configuration, configuration file. The verb 'configure' is the corresponding action (e.g. 'configure the software').

常見錯誤

I need to change the configuration of my phone to make it faster.' (too vague).
I need to adjust the configuration settings on my phone to reduce battery drain.
💡when talking about devices, be specific about which settings or components are being arranged.