model

model [mäd′'l]

n.

[Fr modèle < It modello, dim. of modo < L modus,MODE]

1.

a) a small copy or imitation of an existing object, as a ship, building, etc., made to scale

b) a preliminary representation of something, serving as the plan from which the final, usually larger, object is to be constructed

c) ARCHETYPE (sense 1)

d) a hypothetical or stylized representation, as of an atom

e) a generalized, hypothetical description, often based on an analogy, used in analyzing or explaining something

f) a piece of sculpture in wax or clay from which a finished work in bronze, marble, etc. is to be made

2. a person or thing considered as a standard of excellence to be imitated

3. a style or design; specif., any of a series of different styles or designs of a particular product [a two-door model, a heavy-duty model, a 1969 model]

4.

a) a person who poses for an artist or photographer

b) any person or thing serving as a subject for an artist or writer

c) a person employed to display clothes by wearing them; mannequin

adj.

1. serving as a model, pattern, or standard of excellence [a model student]

2. representative of others of the same kind, style, etc. [a model home]

3. of or being a small-scale copy of an airplane, ship, etc., esp. one assembled from a KIT¹ (n. 2d) as a hobby

vt.

modeled or modelled, modeling or modelling

1.

a) to make a model of

b) to plan, form, or design after a model

c) to make conform to a standard of excellence [to model one's behavior on that of one's elders]

2. to shape or form in or as in clay, wax, etc.

3. to display (a dress, suit, etc.) by wearing

4. Drawing Painting etc. to create a three-dimensional image of on a flat surface through the use of color, shading, etc.

vi.

1. to make a model or models [to model in clay ]

☆ 2. to serve as a MODEL (sense 4)

modeler

n.

modeller

SYN.- MODEL refers to a representation made to be copied or, more generally, to any person or thing to be followed or imitated because of excellence, worth, etc.; EXAMPLE suggests that which is presented as a sample, or that which sets a precedent for imitation, whether good or bad; a PATTERN is a model, guide, plan, etc. to be strictly followed; PARADIGM is common now only in its grammatical sense of an example of a declension or conjugation, giving all the inflectional forms of a word; ARCHETYPE applies to the original pattern serving as the model for all later things of the same kind; STANDARD refers to something established for use as a rule or a basis of comparison in judging quality, quantity, etc.