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(), n.[L. configuratio.] 1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing; shape; figure. It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris. 2. (Astrol.) Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time. They [astrologers] undertook . . . to determine the course of a man's character and life from the configuration of the stars at the moment of his birth. Whewell. 3. (Chem.) the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule as determined by the covalent bonds between them; the three-dimensional structure that cannot be changed without breaking the covalent bonds between atoms of a molecule. It is distinguished from conformation, which is the exact relative location in space of all of the atoms of a molecule, which may vary at different times or in different environments. [PJC] 4. (Computers) a specification of スポンサード リンク
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