template

American  

[tem-plit] / ˈtɛm plɪt /

Or templet

noun

• templates
  plural

1. a pattern, mold, or the like, usually consisting of a thin plate of wood or metal, serving as a gauge or guide in mechanical work.

2. anything that determines or serves as a pattern; a model.

   You can use my notes as a template for employee evaluations.

3. Building Trades. a horizontal piece, as of timber or stone, in a wall, to receive and distribute the pressure of a girder, beam, or the like.

4. Shipbuilding. either of two wedges in each of the temporary blocks forming the support for the keel of a ship while building.

5. Aerial Photogrammetry. any object having lines, slots, or straightedges to represent lines radiating from the center of a photograph, used for graphic triangulation.

6. Genetics. a strand of DNA or RNA that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of a complementary strand of nucleic acid or protein.

7. Computers.

   1. a small sheet or strip of cardboard, plastic, or the like, that fits over a portion of the keyboard and provides ready reference to the keystroke commands of a particular software program.

   2. an electronic file with a predesigned, customized format and structure, as for a fax, letter, or expense report, ready to be filled in.

8. Also called safe. a marble base for a toilet.

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template British  

/ ˈtɛmplɪt /

noun

1. a gauge or pattern, cut out in wood or metal, used in woodwork, etc, to help shape something accurately

2. a pattern cut out in card or plastic, used in various crafts to reproduce shapes

3. a short beam, made of metal, wood, or stone, that is used to spread a load, as over a doorway

4. biochem the molecular structure of a compound that serves as a pattern for the production of the molecular structure of another specific compound in a reaction

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template Scientific  

/ tĕm′plĭt /

1. A molecule of a nucleic acid, such as DNA, that serves as a pattern for the synthesis of another molecule of a nucleic acid.

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Usage

What does template mean? A template is a pattern, model, or guide for the creation of some kind of project. Template is most commonly used in a general way, but it has many specific meanings depending on the context it is being used in. Example: When creating your résumé, don’t start from scratch—use a template so that you can make sure you format it properly.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• templates
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of template

1670–80; alteration of templet, apparently by falsely etymologizing final syllable as plate ¹

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Explanation

A template is a model or a guide for producing something. When you build your website, you might use a free template, filling in your own text and images. Template has a few different meanings, but the most common one is as a pattern that can be used in building or reproducing something. If you are designing costumes for a production of Shakespeare, you might use the design of one of Queen Elizabeth's dresses as a template to work from. In building, a template is a block of wood that goes under a door or a wall to distribute weight.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

template templates

Organisers said this was a template for future multi-sports events.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

The good news is that there is no shortage of talented students in rural areas, and a template exists to help those students succeed within existing public schools.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

But seeking a distinct, permanent identity for their fandom, dubbed "VIPs", band leader G-Dragon proposed a handheld yellow crown, setting the template for custom concert merchandise.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Meanwhile, the cost of an online will template can range from free to around $100, with additional charges for a review by a lawyer associated with the company offering the template.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

On a black screen, a binocular-shaped template of vision sweeps back and forth, taking in the distant refugees.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Free templates for power-of-attorney and health-agent documents may be available from a state agency, and those will need to be signed by a witness or notarized.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Before templates and triple captains there was a world of fantasy football that existed by writing out your XI and ringing in the names.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

"Most likely, they're relying on boilerplate templates which can be detected by large language models that analyze patterns in texts," Professor Barnett said.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 16, 2026

Helen Hunt Jackson’s 1884 bestseller, “Ramona,” about a clash among Southern California rancheros, indigenous peoples and newly arriving white settlers, helped form later literary templates of the Old West.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

In turn, RNA chains were the likely candidates for the templates for protein synthesis.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

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