construct
UK: kənˈstrʌkt | US: kənˈstrʌkt
vt. to build or create something by assembling parts
n. something built or assembled, often a complex idea or physical structure
n. (Linguistics) an abstract grammatical unit formed by combining words
The word "construct" originates from Latin constructus, the past participle of construere ("to pile up, build"). The prefix con- (from cum) means "together," while struct derives from struere ("to pile, arrange"). This reflects the core idea of assembling components into a cohesive whole. The term entered English in the 15th century via Old French, retaining its original architectural sense before expanding to abstract concepts (e.g., mental constructs).
Engineers construct bridges using steel and concrete.
The theory is based on a flawed logical construct.
Children learn to construct sentences with proper grammar.
The artist constructed a sculpture from recycled materials.
In linguistics, a phrase is a type of syntactic construct.