apparent structure
[/əˈpær.ənt ˈstrʌk.tʃər/]
nounfemininepl: apparent structures / estruturas aparentes
estrutura aparente
1. The visible or outward structure of something, as opposed to its true or underlying structure; what appears to be the case structurally at first glance
The apparent structure of the building suggests it was constructed in the 1950s, but further investigation revealed it was built much earlier.
A estrutura aparente do edifício sugere que foi construído nos anos 1950, mas uma investigação mais profunda revelou que foi construído muito antes.
2. In linguistics and grammar, the surface structure of a sentence as it appears, distinct from its deep or underlying structure
The apparent structure of this sentence masks a more complex semantic relationship.
A estrutura aparente desta frase mascara uma relação semântica mais complexa.
3. In materials science and engineering, the observable structural arrangement visible to the eye or through basic examination
The apparent structure of the metal alloy showed regular crystalline patterns.
A estrutura aparente da liga metálica mostrava padrões cristalinos regulares.
This term is primarily used in academic, scientific, and technical contexts in both English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries. It is particularly important in linguistics and semiotics, where the distinction between apparent (surface) and deep structure is fundamental to understanding meaning. In Brazilian Portuguese academic discourse, this term is used frequently in discussions of language analysis and structural engineering.
Related Idioms & Phrases
beneath the apparent structure
on the surface / at face value (related concept)
what you see is not what you get (related concept)
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