construct

B1 Topic:Mind & Cognition

US /ˈkɑn.stɹʌkt/ UK /ˈkɒn.stɹʌkt/ See IPA manual

Freq #12570

Meanings

1

verb
To build something by putting parts together.

They constructed a wooden bridge across the river.
2

verb
To form a sentence, argument, or theory by arranging ideas or words.

A good essay is constructed around a clear central argument.
3

noun
An idea or theory created in the mind rather than existing in reality.

Some argue that race is a social construct.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to build something by... build assemble makeput together

2 verb · to form a sentence,... form

3 noun · an idea or theory created... concept idea model notion

Opposites

destroy disassemble dismantle ruin wreck

Word family

Forms constructedconstructingconstructs

Derived forms coconstructconstructableconstructibilityconstructibleconstructivedeconstructforeconstructgalconill-constructedinterconstructmisconstructnanoconstruct

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cōnstrūctus, from cōnstruō (“to heap together”), from com- (“together”) + struō (“to heap up, pile”). Doublet of construe.

*strew- Proto-Indo-European cōnstrūctus Latin

View etymology graph ->

External links

# construct

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑn.stɹʌkt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒn.stɹʌkt/
**Frequency rank:** 12570

## Meanings
1. To build something by putting parts together.
2. To form a sentence, argument, or theory by arranging ideas or words.
3. An idea or theory created in the mind rather than existing in reality.

## Examples
- They constructed a wooden bridge across the river.
- A good essay is constructed around a clear central argument.
- Some argue that race is a social construct.

## Antonyms
- destroy
- disassemble
- dismantle
- ruin
- wreck

## Derived Forms
- coconstruct
- constructable
- constructibility
- constructible
- constructive
- deconstruct
- foreconstruct
- galcon
- ill-constructed
- interconstruct
- misconstruct
- nanoconstruct

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *strew-
- Root: cōnstrūctus

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin cōnstrūctus, from cōnstruō (“to heap together”), from com- (“together”) + struō (“to heap up, pile”). Doublet of construe.

## AI Etymology
construct is a verb and noun. It was borrowed from Latin cōnstrūctus, from cōnstruō (“to heap together”), from com- (“together”) + struō (“to heap up, pile”). Doublet of construe. Historical forms in the chain include *strew- (Proto-Indo-European) and cōnstrūctus (Latin). Current senses include to build something by putting parts together, to form a sentence, argument, or theory by arranging ideas or words, and an idea or theory created in the mind rather than existing in reality. Derived forms include coconstruct, constructable, constructibility, constructible, and constructive.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition
- Abstract Ideas

markdown

construct

Meanings

Thesaurus

Common collocations

Etymology

Topics

External links

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback