Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Construction?

\Con*struc"tion\, n. [L. constructio: cf. F. construction.] 1. The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection; the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition. 2. The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of anything; structure; arrangement. An astrolabe of peculiar construction. --Whewell. 3. (Gram.) The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence; syntactical arrangement. Some particles . . . in certain constructions have the sense of a whole sentence contained in them. --Locke. 4. The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense. Any person . . . might, by the sort of construction that would be put on this act, become liable to the penalties of treason. --Hallam. Strictly, the term [construction] signifies determining the meaning and proper effect of language by a consideration of the subject matter and attendant circumstances in connection with the words employed. --Abbott. Interpretation properly precedes construction, but it does not go beyond the written text. --Parsons. {Construction of an equation} (Math.), the drawing of such lines and figures as will represent geometrically the quantities in the equation, and their relations to each other. {Construction train} (Railroad), a train for transporting men and materials for construction or repairs.