Är'chi-tĕct'ūre, n.

noun

(tĕkt-yur, 53), n. [Fr. architecture, Lat. architectura, from architectus. See ARCHITECT.]

Sense 1. The art or science of building; especially, the art of constructing houses, bridges, and other buildings, for the purpose of civil life;—often called civil architecture.

Sense 2. Frame or structure; workmanship.

The formation of the first earth being a piece of divine architecture. Burnet.

Military architecture, the art of fortification.—Naval architecture, the art of building ships.