noun
Common
installation
ihn-stuh-LAY-shuhn
Installation (noun) means the act of setting up equipment or software so it's ready for use. Example: “Installation of the new software took only a few minutes.”
noun
1
The act of setting up equipment or software so it's ready for use.
"Installation of the new software took only a few minutes."
"Please book an installation of the broadband router for Friday morning."
"The installation of the solar panels took two days."
2
A piece of equipment or a system once it has been set up.
"The hospital's heating installation is old and needs replacing soon."
"The lighthouse's electrical installation is checked every year by an engineer."
"The factory's new installation cut energy use by a third."
3
An artwork made from arranged objects, often filling a room or space.
"Visitors walked through an installation made of hanging paper birds and soft light."
"The artist's installation turned the empty warehouse into a forest of old chairs."
"The gallery's new installation used mirrors and light to fill the whole room."
4
A group of facilities forming a permanent military base.
"The naval installation includes a harbour, barracks and a small airfield."
"Guards at the army installation checked every visitor's pass at the gate."
"The soldiers were stationed at a coastal installation."
How to use installation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act of setting something up, the equipment once set up, an art piece made of arranged objects, or a military base.
Common pairings
software installation
art installation
military installation
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Word forms
- Plural
- installations
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_____ of the new software took only a few minutes.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin installatio, from installare ("to install").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for installation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for installation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “installation” mean?
The word “installation” means the act of setting up equipment or software so it's ready for use. In plain terms, the act of setting something up, the equipment once set up, an art piece made of arranged objects, or a military base.
How do you pronounce “installation”?
“Installation” is pronounced ihn-stuh-LAY-shuhn (/ˌɪn.stəˈleɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “installation” in a sentence?
Here is “installation” used in a sentence: “The installation of the solar panels took two days.”
What part of speech is “installation”?
“Installation” is a noun.
Where does the word “installation” come from?
The word “installation” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin installatio, from installare ("to install").
Is “installation” a common word?
“Installation” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “installation” have?
“Installation” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of setting up equipment or software so it's ready for use.
What is the difference between the two meanings of "installation"?
"Installation" can name either the act of setting up equipment or software so it is ready to use, or the finished system once it has been set up. So "the installation took an hour" describes the process, while "the heating installation failed" describes the thing itself.
What is the difference between "installation" and "installment"?
"Installation" is the act or result of setting up equipment or software. "Installment" (or "instalment") is one part of something delivered or paid in stages, such as a loan repayment or a serial episode. Despite the similar spelling, they are unrelated in meaning.
Does "installation" refer to a process or a physical thing?
It can be either. As a process, it is the act of setting something up ready for use; as an object, it is the equipment or system once installed. Context makes clear which sense is meant.
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