mode

mode [mōd]

n.

[ME moede < L modus, measure, manner, mode < IE base * med-, to measure: see MEDICAL]

1. a manner or way of acting, doing, or being; method or form

2. [Fr < L modus] customary usage, or current fashion or style, as in manners or dress

3. Geol. the actual mineral composition of an unaltered igneous rock

4. Gram. MOOD² (sense 1)

5. Logic

a) modality or the form of a proposition with reference to its modality

b) MOOD² (sense 2)

6. Metaphysics the form, or way of being, of something, as distinct from its substance

7. Music

a) the selection and arrangement of tones and semitones in a scale, esp. any of such arrangements in medieval church music

b) a rhythmical system of the 13th cent.

c) either of the two forms of scale arrangement in later music (MAJOR MODE and MINOR MODE)

8. Statistics the value, number, etc. that occurs most frequently in a given series

SYN.- FASHION