megastructure

plural megastructures · alternative mega-structure · alternative mega structure

1. A very large structure.

   I never cared for zipways as a way to get around megastructures like this. I always thought that there was a reason God invented taxis.

   2006, K. A. Bedford, Hydrogen Steel

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   “The concern,” said Mayor Brad Parton, “is ending up with a mega-structure that costs us more than we anticipated to maintain, and that will end up as a deficit on our tax rolls.”

   1990 August 23, Shawn Hubler, “Redondo Considers Scaling Back Aviation Park Plans : Recreation: Council learns that cost estimates for the renovation project are rising. But changing the plan would require a public hearing.”, in Los Angeles Times

   1. architectureA specific type of structure characterized by very large buildings with strictly artificial forms.

      A fusion of architecture and city planning, megastructures were supposed to bring together mixed uses -- like housing, shopping, transportation and public space -- within a single building.

      1993 April 26, Herbert Muschamp, “Pritzker Prize for Japanese Architect”, in The New York Times, page C18

      Synonyms: omnibuilding

   2. literatureA hypothetical structure not possible with current technology, e.g., a Dyson sphere.

      For lack of anything intelligent to do (it's a slow weekend), I've been compiling a list of stories about "megastructures" -- ringworlds, Dyson spheres, and so forth.

      1993 January 17, Ross Smith, “Enormous Big Things”, in rec.arts.sf.written (Usenet), message-ID <alien.02jk@acheron.amigans.gen.nz>

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      Wright and his co-authors say the unusual star’s light pattern is consistent with a “swarm of megastructures,” perhaps stellar-light collectors, technology designed to catch energy from the star.

      2015 October 13, Ross Andersen, “The Most Mysterious Star in Our Galaxy”, in The Atlantic

2. uncountableThe large-scale structure of a material, as contrasted to the fine-scale structure.

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   That local concentration of the sulphur, phosphorous and carbon is also found in many other positions has been proved by the most invaluable method of examining the macrostructure or megastructure of complete sections, of ingots and forged material, after the surfaces of the steel have been polished and etched in a suitable way.

   1907 August, John Edward Stead, “Segregation in Steel”, in Technical Literature, volume 2, number 2, page 86

   Synonyms: macrostructure · Antonyms: microstructure