modular
UK[ˈmɒdʒələ]US[ˈmɑːdʒələr]
adj
Designed with standardized units or dimensions for flexibility and variety in use.
adj
Composed of modules or distinct units that can be combined, separated, or rearranged.
Morpheme Breakdown
modul
ar
modul
small measure
ar
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'modular' is built upon the Latin root modus, meaning 'measure, manner, or limit'. From modus came the diminutive modulus, a 'small measure' or standard unit. In architecture and engineering, a 'module' became a standardized unit of measurement used to ensure proportion and allow for repetition. The adjective 'modular', formed by adding the suffix '-ar', thus describes something constructed from or pertaining to such standardized, interchangeable units, capturing the concept of flexible design through the logic of measured, combinable parts.
Analysis
Structure: modul (small measure) + ar (adjective suffix)
modul (from Latin modulus, meaning a small measure, standard, unit); ar (a variant of the Latin adjectival suffix -aris, meaning 'pertaining to' or 'of the nature of').
Examples
The company uses a modular design for its furniture, allowing customers to configure their own shelving systems.
The software was built in a modular fashion, so new features can be added without rewriting the entire codebase.
The construction of the spacecraft involved assembling modular components that were tested independently.