architect

Etymology

Middle French architecte, from Ancient Greek ἀρχιτέκτων (arkhitéktōn, “master builder”), from ἀρχι- (arkhi-, “chief”) + τέκτων (téktōn, “builder”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɑːkɪtɛkt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɑɹkɪtɛkt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

architect (plural architects)

1. A professional who designs buildings or other structures, or who prepares plans and superintends construction.

   Plato made the causes of things to be matter, ideas, and an efficient architect.

2. A person who plans, devises or contrives the achievement of a desired result.

   Peisistratus was the first architect of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

   • 2012 April 21, Jonathan Jurejko, “Newcastle 3-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport‎:

     French winger Hatem Ben Arfa has also taken plenty of plaudits recently and he was the architect of the opening goal with some superb trickery on the left touchline.

3. (Philippines) A title given to architects. Usually capitalized or abbreviated as Arch./Ar. before the person's name.

Verb

architect (third-person singular simple present architects, present participle architecting, simple past and past participle architected)

1. (transitive) To design, plan, or orchestrate.

   He architected the military coup against the government.

   • 1857, Mary Andrews Denison, Gracie Amber‎:

     Dacker was his own architect, (or, as he sometimes said, he architected his own fortunes,) and his own carpenter.

   • 1894 December 14, The Electrical Review‎, volume 35, page 720:

     It is interesting to record that the excavating and the laying of the pipes for the mains have been done by the Corporation employés under the supervision and control of Mr. Harpur, the borough engineer, who, by the way, architected the station.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑrxiˈtɛkt/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

architect m (plural architecten, diminutive architectje n, feminine architecte)

1. architect