the profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design or selection of furnishings and decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings.
2.
the character or style of building:
the architecture of Paris; Romanesque architecture.
3.
the action or process of building; construction.
4.
the result or product of architectural work, as a building.
5.
buildings collectively.
6.
a fundamental underlying design of computer hardware, software, or both.
7.
the structure of anything:
the architecture of a novel.
Origin
1555-65; (< Middle French) < Latinarchitectūra. See architect, -ure
British Dictionary definitions for architectures
architecture
/ˈɑːkɪˌtɛktʃə/
noun
1.
the art and science of designing and superintending the erection of buildings and similar structures
2.
a style of building or structure: Gothic architecture
3.
buildings or structures collectively
4.
the structure or design of anything: the architecture of the universe
5.
the internal organization of a computer's components with particular reference to the way in which data is transmitted
6.
the arrangement of the various devices in a complete computer system or network
Derived Forms
architectural, adjective architecturally, adverb
Word Origin and History for architectures
architecture
n.
1560s, from Middle French architecture, from Latin architectura, from architectus "architect" (see architect).